UAP AnalysisIndependent · the declassified record
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OtherUnresolvedAmbiguous

Dark kite-shaped object moving laterally off road — Western US, pre-dawn

Date unknownWestern United States, restricted zone road (specific location not provided) (approx.)2 ft
Analysis — our summary

Two federal law enforcement agents (USPER5 and USPER6) initially observed what appeared to be a vehicle on a road in a restricted zone, displaying one red and one white light approximately 2–3 feet off the ground. Upon approaching to within a few hundred feet, the object moved laterally off the road over open desert at an estimated 15–20 mph without changing its orientation relative to the observers, then stopped approximately 100 meters off the road and extinguished its lights. USPER6, viewing through NVGs, observed a 'very thin line' approximately 4 feet wide oriented horizontally. The object then resumed movement at the same speed and appeared to increase altitude while maintaining its flat profile. In later AARO discussions, the object was described as triangular. No sound was reported.

As reported — verbatim from the document
'it almost looked like an ill defined, dark kite shape that had some rounded width to the sides'; 'observed the object for "a split second in the NVGs before the light turned off" and that once the lights were off, a "very thin line" remained'
Analyst notes — caveats & confidence

Incident occurred pre-dawn; NVG was the primary observation tool for at least one witness. Shape description varied between the two witnesses (thin line vs. dark kite) and was later revised to 'triangular' in AARO discussions; this ambiguity is preserved. Object altitude (~2 ft off ground) is witness-estimated. No sensor data beyond eyewitness and NVG visual. No date provided. AARO involvement confirmed via post-event discussions referenced in the slide.

Provenance
Source documentWestern_US_Event_Slides_5.08.2026.pdf
Document typeBriefing slide deck / summary report (dated 5 August 2026, classification not stated in text)
Reporting agencyOther
Source pages4
DeclassifiedFirst public at this release (2026)
Extraction confidence ModerateHow cleanly this record could be parsed from the source — driven by legibility & redaction. It is not a measure of how credible or anomalous the sighting is.