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This memorandum for record, dated 5 June 2026, comes from the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) in the Office of the Under Secretary of War. It is an update on AARO's analysis of an October 2023 incident near a sensitive national security site in the western United States. Over two days, six federal agents reported orange "mother orbs" releasing smaller red orbs. AARO attributes about 60 percent of the activity to military aircraft dispensing flares, and the remaining 40 percent is still unresolved.
From the source: Release of 2026-06-12 Incident: 2023, Western United States. This memorandum summarizes the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office’s (AARO) ongoing analysis of a reported incident near a sensitive national security site in the western United States involving unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) over a period of two days in 2023. As of June 2026, the case remains unresolved.
UNCLASSIFIED ii. Atmospheric anomalies, (e.g., temperature inversion and refractive effects). Weather conditions were generally clear, with seasonable temperatures and typical levels of light pollution for the area. AARO assesses as unlikely that such conditions would contribute to misperceptions of a phenomenon’s physical or kinematic features. iii. Space-based phenomena, (e.g., stars, planets, meteors, satellite flaring, rocketry). The agents’ diverse viewing angles make it highly unlikely that misidentified celestial bodies account for the phenomena. In instances in which reporters described stationary “loitering” behavior, misidentified celestial bodies are more plausible, though still unlikely. Attribution to meteors or other ephemeral space- based phenomena, including satellite flaring, is inconsistent with the reported persistence of at least one of the red “orbs” over a period of several hours. Bolides, for example, typically exhibit a characteristic tail, which is inconsistent with the reported morphology of the “mother orbs.” g. Unrecognized Technology (Pending): AARO’s preliminary exclusion-based hypothesis is that, given the otherwise unexplained kinematic and physical characteristics described in narrative reports, unrecognized technology may account for up to 40 percent of the phenomena associated with this incident. However, this provisional assessment is based solely upon narrative testimony, as well as the elimination of competing hypotheses, and is unsubstantiated by technical data or physical evidence. 5. Next Steps. AARO assesses that the features described by the reporting agents are sufficiently anomalous to warrant continued investigation into the nature of the underlying incident. AARO intends to integrate scientific modeling capabilities from partner agencies within the Federal Government, expertise from scientific and academic institutions, and insights from multi- domain, multispectral data exploitation techniques to inform its assessment of this and other reported UAP cases in the western United States region. AARO will continue to update its analytic tradecraft to incorporate the best scientific and intelligence analysis practices to resolve anomalies with higher confidence. AARO will also seek opportunities to broaden its relationships with partners possessing relevant technical and domain expertise to enhance its ability to efficiently deconflict Blue and Red Force programs and activities, as well as to optimize data collection protocols to incorporate more diverse sources. AARO may revise its assessment and provide updates if additional intelligence and data sources become available. Jon T. Kosloski Director, AARO 4 UNCLASSIFIED
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