The UFO Library: Military encounter
Mosul Orb
Metallic sphere filmed by US intelligence aircraft over Mosul, Iraq, classified for years and later included in Pentagon UAP briefings to Congress.
The Incident
On April 16, 2016, at 9:47 AM, a US intelligence-reconnaissance MC-12 aircraft operating over Mosul, Iraq, captured approximately four seconds of video footage showing an unidentified metallic sphere. The object appeared to fly alongside the aircraft without changing altitude and displayed a reflective, mirror-like surface. Significantly, the sphere exhibited no visible aerodynamic features such as wings, control surfaces, or visible propulsion mechanisms.
Classification and Analysis
The footage was immediately classified and retained within the US intelligence community. Over the following six years, the video was analyzed by specialists at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia for US Central Command, but remained officially unexplained. Officials who prepared the briefing materials concluded that the orb operated under intelligent control, though no formal determination of its origin or nature was ever made public by the Department of Defense.
Congressional Briefing (2021)
In November 2021, the classified video and imagery were included in a briefing presented to Congressional intelligence and defense committees by the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF). This marked one of the first times that classified UAP footage from US military platforms was shown to Congress on an official basis, establishing the Mosul incident as part of the government's documented record of unexplained phenomena.
Public Release (2023)
On January 24, 2023, investigative filmmaker Jeremy Corbell and investigative reporter George Knapp released the footage and still images through their podcast "Weaponized." This marked the first time authenticated footage from a US spy aircraft of a UAP was made public. The release drew significant media coverage and reignited discussion of the Pentagon's handling of UAP evidence.
Current Status
The Mosul Orb remains an active case within the Department of Defense's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). It is considered one of the most credible military UAP sightings due to its origin in classified reconnaissance operations, the professionalism of the witnesses, and the corroboration by official government briefing records.
Witnesses
Crew of US MC-12 intelligence-reconnaissance aircraft (names classified)
Evidence
Approximately 4-second video clip; still photograph extracted from video showing metallic sphere with reflective surface; classified briefing materials and Congressional briefing record (November 4, 2021)
Filed under
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Where this entry came from
ProvenanceAgent indexedUpdated 3mo ago4 sources
Drafted by the archive's AI research agent from the sources below; corrections from readers are reviewed and folded in.
- First indexed
- 28 JUL 26 // 03:18Z
- Last updated
- 28 JUL 26 // 03:18Z
- 'Mosul Orb': US silent on UAP filmed by military over Iraq, Fox News
- UFO-like orb spotted flying over Iraq's Mosul in 2016 image released by US officials, Al Arabiya News
- New Photo of UFO Orb Taken by US Military in Iraq, PetaPixel
- 2016 Mosul Orb, The UFO Database
Notes
- 'Mosul Orb': US silent on UAP filmed by military over Iraq, Fox News
- UFO-like orb spotted flying over Iraq's Mosul in 2016 image released by US officials, Al Arabiya News
- New Photo of UFO Orb Taken by US Military in Iraq, PetaPixel
- 2016 Mosul Orb, The UFO Database
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