USS Russell triangular night-vision objects

Case

Overview

Night-vision imagery appeared triangular; later official analysis attributes apparent shape to optical bokeh and objects to UAS.

Investigative phases

2019 deck logs/briefing; 2021 publication; 2022 House testimony

Reported phenomena

Blinking triangular-looking lights

Public evidence status

Navy video provenance established; triangle shape not established as physical

Alternative explanations / caveats

SRC-038; SRC-039

Next research tasks

Related CASE-010; July 2019 UAS incidents

Last reviewed

Explained / likely drones and optical artifact

Assessment

Not yet in the Case Assessment Matrix.

Evidence (5)

• USS Russell night-vision triangular-looking lights Claim unverified
  CE-029 · 2019-07-17 · Night-vision imagery / FOIA briefing
  Gaps: UAS explanation supported by records
• DoD hearing optical/bokeh and drone assessment Documented
  CE-030 · 2022-05-17 · Official testimony
  Gaps: Not evidence of triangular craft
• Oversaw AARO investigations, technical assessments and reporting CorroboratedAnalysis
  E073 · 2022–2026 · Institutional / published research
• Sean Kirkpatrick directed AARO and oversaw government UAP investigations and public assessments Claim unverifiedSecondhand
  E092 · 2022–2023 · Official program and technical assessment
• Scott Bray testified publicly on UAP reporting, UAPTF work and interpretation of triangular night-vision imagery CorroboratedFirsthand
  E129 · 2022-05-17 · Official sworn/public testimony

Documents gathered (5 lines of evidence)

2 readable here · 3 with a linked primary record · 0 still need a document · All cases on the evidence map

• USS Russell night-vision triangular-looking lights Primary record linked
  CE-029 · Drone swarms that harassed Navy ships demystified in new documents
• DoD hearing optical/bokeh and drone assessment Readable here
  CE-030 · Unidentified Aerial Phenomena hearing transcript (read here)
• Oversaw AARO investigations, technical assessments and reporting Primary record linked
  E073 · All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office
• Sean Kirkpatrick directed AARO and oversaw government UAP investigations and public assessments Primary record linked
  E092 · All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office
• Scott Bray testified publicly on UAP reporting, UAPTF work and interpretation of triangular night-vision imagery Readable here
  E129 · Unidentified Aerial Phenomena hearing transcript (read here)

On the timeline (4)

• 2019-07-17 USS Russell records triangular-looking lights Reported
  Later assessed as UAS and optical bokeh
• 2021-04/05 Omaha and Russell footage publicized; Navy provenance confirmed Unverified
  Identity and performance not established
• 2022-05-17 House hearing discusses USS Russell triangular imagery Documented
  Optical bokeh and drones offered as explanation
• 2022-05-17 DDNI Scott Bray testified to House Intelligence committee regarding UAPTF and triangular night-vision footage Documented
  Official transcript; interpretation of video differs from some UAP claims