The 2017 Al Taqaddum Air Base UAP Incursion: A Formal AARO Resolution

The 2017 Al Taqaddum Incident

On October 23, 2017, an infrared (IR) sensor mounted on an aerostat force protection dirigible operating at an altitude of 2,700 feet above Al Taqaddum Air Base in Iraq captured 17 minutes and 30 seconds of footage depicting an unidentified object. The object appeared to be hovering or moving slowly above the ground before exhibiting behaviors that caught the attention of military analysts. The footage, which has since been reviewed by the Department of Defense’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), shows the object moving at high speed and seemingly splitting into two distinct entities before disappearing from the sensor's field of view.

This incident is a primary example of the modern, data-driven approach to UAP investigation. Unlike historical cases that relied solely on eyewitness testimony, the Al Taqaddum event provided high-fidelity sensor data that allowed for a rigorous scientific review. AARO has utilized this case to refine its analytic frameworks for identifying common or naturally occurring phenomena, such as atmospheric wakes or sensor artifacts. The incident underscores the ongoing challenge the Department of Defense faces in securing restricted airspace. As part of the Fiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Annual Report on UAP, the government continues to document such incursions to ensure that they do not represent threats from foreign adversaries or unidentified technological breakthroughs. The case remains a key reference point for the public-facing AARO website, which provides declassified data and case resolutions to promote transparency regarding the government's efforts to identify anomalous phenomena in military-controlled environments.