The 2023 Western United States 'Orb-Launching' Incident

Incident Summary

In October 2023, a series of highly unusual aerial encounters occurred near a sensitive national security installation in the Western United States. The events were documented by federal officials and subsequently analyzed by the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). The sightings, which spanned a two-day period, involved the observation of a large, luminous orange 'mother orb' that appeared to systematically deploy smaller red objects over several hours.

AARO Analysis and Disclosure

In a memorandum dated June 5, 2026, AARO provided an update on the investigation of this event. The report highlights the complexity of the sighting, noting that the behavior of the objects—specifically the deployment of smaller units from a larger craft—remains unresolved. The Pentagon released artistic renderings based on witness testimony to illustrate the encounter, which occurred in a remote desert landscape. This case is part of a broader effort by the U.S. government to increase transparency regarding UAP encounters that occur near critical infrastructure and military testing ranges.

Significance to Modern UAP Research

This incident is notable for its inclusion in the third major release of UFO files by the federal government. It underscores the ongoing challenges faced by AARO in identifying phenomena that exhibit advanced, non-conventional flight characteristics. By utilizing sensor data and eyewitness accounts, the office continues to categorize these events to determine if they represent foreign adversary technology, natural phenomena, or truly anomalous craft. The 'orb-launching' incident remains a primary case study for researchers examining the morphology of modern UAP sightings and the government's evolving methodology for reporting and analyzing such anomalies in the 21st century.