Western U.S. Event (October 2023) – PURSUE Files

Statements by federal agents who reported “orbs launching other orbs,” a glowing orb at close range and a “translucent kite” near a sensitive site over two days in October 2023

⚠ Note on validity: AARO calls this “among the most compelling” reports it holds, but it has no sensor data. The evidence is witness statements and artists’ renderings, and as of June 2026 the case remained unresolved.

Western U.S. Event
Date	Two days in October 2023
Location	Near a sensitive national security site, western United States
Witnesses	Seven federal employees, including federal law enforcement special agents
Agencies	AARO, FBI
Released	Release 01 (May 8, 2026); Release 03 (June 12, 2026)
Files	20 (PDF, Image, Video (DVIDS))
Previously public?	No — new in PURSUE (Releases 01 and 03)
Official releaseUnresolved

Over two days in October 2023, seven U.S. federal employees, most of them federal law enforcement special agents, separately reported unusual phenomena near a sensitive national security site in the western United States. Their accounts fall into four types: “orbs launching other orbs” at a distance; a large, stationary glowing orb at close range; a pursuit of a large object near the ground; and a large, seemingly transparent object they likened to a “translucent kite.”^[1]

A one-page summary appeared in PURSUE Release 01. Release 03 added AARO’s June 2026 analysis update, a notional map, five first-hand witness narratives, ten FBI digital renderings drawn from their descriptions, and two video recreations.^[1]

The records

Western US Event

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This document is a summary of statements by seven US PERSONs employed by the federal government who separately reported observing several unidentified anomalous phenomena in the western United States over the course of two days in 2023. The summary notes the US PERSONS reported four distinct categories of experiences, including observing “orbs launching other orbs” at a distance, observing a large stationary glowing orb at close estimated range, pursuing a large phenomenon near the ground, and observing a large, seemingly transparent phenomenon, reported to being akin to a “translucent kite.” Although there is no technical data directly associated with this report, contextual factors — such as these events sharing features with others reported to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), the reporters’ credibility, and the potentially anomalous nature of the events themselves — combine to make this report among the most compelling within AARO’s current holdings.
— Official PURSUE description

DOW-UAP-D077, AARO Unresolved Case Analysis Update: Western United States Event

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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.
— Official PURSUE description

DOW-UAP-D078, Notional Map: Western United States Event

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This image is a notional representation of four incidents reportedly involving unidentified anomalous phenomena in the western United States, as seen from above. This illustration depicts multiple incidents reported by U.S. federal law enforcement special agents over a period of several days in October 2023.
— Official PURSUE description

DOW-UAP-D079, Narrative Statement 1, Western United States Event, 2023

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This memorandum presents the first-hand narrative from Witness 1 provided to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). Witness 1 was one of several United States (U.S.) federal law enforcement special agents who reported observing unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) over a period of two days in October 2023 in the western United States.
— Official PURSUE description

DOW-UAP-D080, Narrative Statement 2, Western United States Event, 2023

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This memorandum presents the first-hand narrative from Witness 2 provided to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). Witness 2 was one of several United States (U.S.) federal law enforcement special agents who reported observing unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) over a period of two days in October 2023 in the western United States.
— Official PURSUE description

DOW-UAP-D081, Narrative Statement 3, Western United States Event, 2023

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This memorandum presents the first-hand narrative from Witness 3 provided to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). Witness 3 was one of several United States (U.S.) federal law enforcement special agents who reported observing unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) over a period of two days in October 2023 in the western United States.
— Official PURSUE description

DOW-UAP-D082, Narrative Statement 4, Western United States Event, 2023

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This memorandum presents the first-hand narrative from Witness 4 provided to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). Witness 4 was one of several United States (U.S.) federal law enforcement special agents who reported observing unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) over a period of two days in October 2023 in the western United States.
— Official PURSUE description

DOW-UAP-D083, Narrative Statement 5, Western United States Event, 2023

Open DOW-UAP-D083 (PDF) on war.gov →

This memorandum presents the first-hand narrative from Witness 5 provided to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). Witness 5 was one of several United States (U.S.) federal law enforcement special agents who reported observing unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) over a period of two days in October 2023 in the western United States.
— Official PURSUE description

FBI-UAP-D014, Digital Rendering, Narrative Statement 1-1, Western United States Event, 2023