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Key Takeaways
- US Navy fighter jets recorded the Gimbal video in January 2015 off the US East Coast.
- The footage displays an object rotating mid-air without visible propulsion or exhaust.
- Debates continue between official anomalous classifications and skeptical glare theories.
The “Gimbal” Video
The study of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) underwent a significant shift in the public consciousness during the last decade. Among the evidence brought forward, three videos captured by United States Navy fighters stand out as primary artifacts of interest. One of these, known widely as the “Gimbal” video, presents a particularly complex case study. Recorded in January 2015 by pilots assigned to the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group, the footage shows an airborne object exhibiting flight characteristics that defy immediate explanation.
This article provides a detailed account of the Gimbal incident. It reviews the historical context of the deployment, the technical specifications of the equipment used to capture the data, the specific visual and audio evidence contained within the recording, and the subsequent analysis performed by both government officials and independent researchers.
Historical Context and the Roosevelt Deployment
The events surrounding the Gimbal video occurred during a workup cycle for the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). In early 2015, the carrier strike group conducted training operations off the coast of Florida and along the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. This period served as a final certification phase before a scheduled deployment to the Middle East in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
During this timeframe, the Navy began upgrading its F/A-18 Super Hornet fleet with new radar systems. The transition from mechanical radar systems to the AN/APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar represented a significant leap in sensor capability. Pilots and radar operators immediately noticed a change in their situational awareness. The AESA radar provided higher resolution and the ability to detect smaller targets at greater distances than previous generations of hardware.
The Role of New Technology
The introduction of the AESA radar serves as a primary factor in the sudden increase of UAP reports during this period. Ryan Graves, a former Navy Lieutenant and F/A-18F pilot who served with VFA-11 “Red Rippers,” stated that the new radar systems began picking up contacts that earlier systems might have filtered out or failed to detect entirely. These contacts appeared stationary in high winds or moved at velocities that appeared inconsistent with conventional aircraft.
The airspace off the East Coast of the United States, particularly the warning areas used for military training, became the stage for daily encounters with these unidentified objects. Pilots reported seeing objects that looked like a “cube within a sphere,” flying in formation or hovering motionless for extended periods. The Gimbal incident represents just one recorded event from a series of sightings that reportedly occurred over several months.
The Encounter: January 2015
The specific date of the Gimbal event is generally cited as January 2015, though the exact day remains unconfirmed in unclassified documents. The encounter took place in the early evening, as evidenced by the lighting conditions in the video and the infrared setting used. A flight of two F/A-18F Super Hornets operating from the USS Theodore Roosevelt detected an object via radar and proceeded to investigate.
The pilots utilized the AN/ASQ-228 Advanced Targeting Forward-Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) pod to acquire a visual track of the target. The ATFLIR is a multi-sensor pod manufactured by Raytheon that combines a thermographic camera, a low-light television camera, and a laser rangefinder/designator. It allows aircrews to identify and track targets at long ranges, day or night.
Visual and Audio Evidence
The released video runs for approximately 34 seconds. It displays the feed from the ATFLIR pod in “Black Hot” mode, where hotter objects appear dark against a lighter, cooler background. The footage captures a dialogue between the pilot and the Weapons Systems Officer (WSO) in the backseat.
The audio recording reveals the crew’s confusion and surprise. One crew member exclaims, “There’s a whole fleet of them,” referring to the situational awareness (SA) page on their display which showed multiple contacts. Another voice notes, “My gosh,” followed by, “They’re all going against the wind. The wind’s 120 knots to the west.”
This comment regarding the wind speed provides significant meteorological context. At the altitude of the encounter (approximately 25,000 feet), the jet stream or high-altitude winds were moving at 120 knots (about 138 mph). The object in the video appears to maintain its position or move against this strong headwind, a feat that would require substantial propulsion for a conventional aircraft, yet the video shows no visible exhaust plume or control surfaces.
Technical Analysis of the Footage
Understanding the Gimbal video requires a breakdown of the on-screen symbology generated by the F/A-18’s systems. The Heads-Up Display (HUD) and the ATFLIR display provide real-time data about the aircraft’s state and the sensor’s focus.
HUD Symbology Breakdown
The display contains several critical data points:
- A/S (Airspeed): The aircraft travels at approximately 0.58 Mach to 0.61 Mach during the clip.
- Alt (Altitude): The aircraft maintains an altitude between 25,000 and 26,000 feet.
- Gimb (Gimbal): The term “Gimbal” appears on the screen, but this refers to the sensor pod’s gimbal mechanism, not necessarily the name of the object.
- Angle of Bank: The aircraft is in a shallow left bank, turning to keep the object within the sensor’s field of view.
The “Gimbal” Rotation
The defining moment of the video – and the source of its name – occurs near the end of the clip. The object, which appears as a dark, saucer or top-shaped silhouette, rotates roughly 90 degrees. It shifts from a horizontal orientation to a vertical one while maintaining its flight path. One of the pilots reacts viscerally to this movement, stating, “Look at that thing, dude!” and “It’s rotating!”
This rotation occurs smoothly and without any apparent loss of lift or aerodynamic stability. For a conventional fixed-wing aircraft, banking 90 degrees would result in a turn or a change in lift vector. The object in the video appears to continue on its existing trajectory despite the drastic change in orientation.
The ATFLIR System
The Raytheon ATFLIR pod uses a complex system of mirrors and lenses to stabilize the image. It allows the camera to rotate independently of the aircraft’s movement. However, the system has mechanical limits. When the sensor head reaches a certain angle, it must rotate or “roll” to maintain the image orientation. This mechanical action is known as “gimbal roll.”
The interaction between the physical movement of the sensor and the image displayed on the screen becomes a central point of contention in the analysis of this incident. The glare hypothesis, discussed later in this article, relies heavily on the mechanics of this system.
The Chain of Custody and Release
The path from the cockpit of a Navy fighter to the public internet involved several stages of classification review and unauthorized leaks.
The 2017 New York Times Report
The Gimbal video first reached a wide audience on December 16, 2017. The New York Times published an article titled “Glowing Auras and ‘Black Money’: The Pentagon’s Mysterious U.F.O. Program.” The piece detailed the existence of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), a secretive initiative funded by the United States Department of Defense.
Alongside the article, The New York Times released the Gimbal video and another clip known as “FLIR1” (from the 2004 Nimitz encounter). The release credited To the Stars Academy of Arts & Science, an organization co-founded by musician Tom DeLonge and former intelligence officer Christopher Mellon.
Official Acknowledgement
Following the 2017 release, the Navy initially refrained from confirming the authenticity of the footage. However, in September 2019, the United States Navy officially acknowledged that the videos were genuine records of “unidentified aerial phenomena.” This marked a historic moment, as the military admitted that the objects in the footage remained unidentified.
In April 2020, the United States Department of Defense formally released the videos themselves, placing them in the public domain to “clear up any misconceptions” about whether the footage that had been circulating was real.
Competing Explanations
The interpretation of the Gimbal video divides generally into two camps: those who view it as evidence of anomalous technology, and those who attribute the visuals to sensor artifacts and optical illusions.
The Anomalous Technology Perspective
Proponents of the anomalous view argue that the object demonstrates capabilities far beyond current human technology.
- Lack of Propulsion: The object shows no exhaust plume, propeller, or jet intake. In an infrared view, a jet engine or rocket motor would appear as a distinct heat source (either white or black depending on the mode). The Gimbal object appears to have a uniform temperature skin or a cold signature with a glowing aura.
- Agility and Rotation: The rotation maneuver at the end of the video occurs without a corresponding change in aerodynamic vector. The pilots, trained observers with thousands of flight hours, express clear confusion and shock at the movement.
- Radar Data: While the public video only shows the FLIR view, pilot Ryan Graves and others have stated that radar data indicated a physical object was present. The “fleet” mentioned in the audio refers to multiple other contacts on the radar that were not captured in the narrow field of view of the FLIR.
The Glare Hypothesis
Skeptical investigators, most notably Mick West, propose that the object seen in the video is likely the infrared glare of a conventional aircraft engine, viewed from behind.
- Distance and Glare: West argues that the object is likely 20 to 30 miles away. At that distance, the heat of a jet engine would overwhelm the sensor, creating a glare that obscures the physical aircraft. The shape of the object on screen (the saucer shape) matches the shape of the aperture or internal reflections of the camera, not the object itself.
- Derotation: The skepticism analysis points out that the background clouds in the video appear to rotate in unison with the object. This suggests that the rotation is an artifact of the camera (the gimbal roll) rather than the object itself moving. When the camera reaches its limit and rolls to track the target, the lens flare (the object) rotates on the screen.
- Flight Path: Skeptics argue that the flight path is consistent with a normal aircraft moving away from the camera, and the lack of visible movement is due to parallax and the angle of pursuit.
Government Investigations and Hearings
The Gimbal incident, along with the Nimitz and Go Fast encounters, spurred significant legislative action.
The UAP Task Force
In August 2020, the United States Department of Defense established the UAP Task Force (UAPTF). This body aimed to standardize the collection and reporting of UAP sightings. The Gimbal video served as a primary piece of evidence justifying the need for such a task force.
Congressional Hearings
In May 2022, the United States Congress held its first public hearing on UAP in over 50 years. Officials from the Pentagon testified before the House Intelligence Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence, and Counterproliferation Subcommittee. During these hearings, the Gimbal video was not the primary focus of the new evidence presented, but it remained the context for the discussion. The hearings established that UAP incidents are frequent and pose a potential flight safety hazard.
AARO Establishment
Following the UAPTF, the government established the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). AARO serves as the central office for all UAP investigations. In their reports, they have reviewed hundreds of cases. While some cases have been resolved as balloons or drones, the Gimbal incident remains one of the most high-profile cases that helped launch the office, even as debates about its final classification continue.
Broader Implications for Aviation Safety
Regardless of the nature of the object – whether it is a sensor artifact or a genuine anomaly – the Gimbal incident highlights a critical issue in aviation safety. The presence of unidentified contacts in military training airspace represents a collision risk.
Ryan Graves founded the organization Americans for Safe Aerospace to advocate for pilot safety and a reduction in the stigma surrounding UAP reporting. The organization argues that pilots must feel free to report what they see without fear of professional reprisal. The Gimbal incident serves as a case study for why accurate reporting and sensor data analysis are vital for national security.
Summary
The Gimbal incident remains one of the most significant and debated UAP events of the 21st century. Captured by sophisticated military sensors and corroborated by credible witnesses, the footage presents a challenge to conventional understanding of aerial dynamics. While skeptical explanations offer plausible theories regarding sensor artifacts and glare, the testimony of the pilots and the context of the radar data suggest a complex event that warrants continued investigation. As the United States Department of Defense and independent scientists continue to analyze the data, the Gimbal video stands as a pivotal moment that moved the conversation about unidentified aerial phenomena from the fringe to the halls of Congress.
Appendix: Top 10 Questions Answered in This Article
When did the Gimbal incident take place?
The Gimbal incident occurred in January 2015. It took place during the training workups for the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group off the East Coast of the United States.
What aircraft captured the Gimbal video?
The video was recorded by a United States Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet. This twin-seat fighter jet is equipped with advanced radar and sensor systems used for air-to-air and air-to-ground operations.
What sensor system recorded the footage?
The footage was captured using the Raytheon AN/ASQ-228 Advanced Targeting Forward-Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) pod. This pod houses a thermal camera, a low-light camera, and a laser designator.
Who is the primary pilot witness associated with these events?
Ryan Graves, a former Navy Lieutenant, is the primary public witness. He has testified before Congress and given numerous interviews regarding the sightings made by his squadron during the 2015 deployment.
What does the “Gimbal” rotation show?
The video shows the object rotating approximately 90 degrees from a horizontal to a vertical orientation. This occurs while the object maintains its flight path against high winds, causing the pilots to express surprise.
What is the “glare hypothesis”?
The glare hypothesis suggests the object is the infrared glare of a distant jet engine. Skeptics argue the rotation seen on screen is caused by the camera’s gimbal mechanism rotating, not the object itself.
Did the Pentagon confirm the video is real?
Yes, the Department of Defense officially released the video in April 2020. They confirmed it was authentic Navy footage and stated the object remains characterized as “unidentified.”
What were the weather conditions during the incident?
The audio in the video indicates strong winds at altitude. The pilots mention the wind is “120 knots to the west,” suggesting the object was holding position or moving against a strong headwind.
What is the connection to the New York Times?
The New York Times published the video in December 2017. This article revealed the existence of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) and brought the video to global attention.
What is the AESA radar’s role in this incident?
The upgrade to the APG-79 AESA radar allowed Navy pilots to detect smaller targets at greater distances. This technological upgrade correlates with the sudden increase in UAP sightings reported by the squadron in 2015.
Appendix: Top 10 Frequently Searched Questions Answered in This Article
Is the Gimbal video evidence of aliens?
The video does not provide definitive evidence of extraterrestrial origin. The Department of Defense classifies the object as “unidentified,” meaning its nature and origin remain undetermined based on public data.
How fast was the Gimbal UFO going?
The video does not provide a specific speed readout for the object itself. However, the pilots note the object is moving against 120-knot winds, implying significant capability if it is a physical craft.
Why is it called the Gimbal video?
It is named “Gimbal” because of the pilot’s comment “Look at that thing!” and the object’s apparent rotation. The word “Gimb” also appears on the HUD, referring to the sensor status, which caused initial naming conventions.
What did Mick West say about the Gimbal video?
Mick West proposed that the rotating object is a rotating glare artifact. He demonstrated that the background clouds rotate in sync with the object, suggesting the camera movement causes the apparent rotation.
Where can I watch the Gimbal video?
The video is available on the official Naval Air Systems Command FOIA reading room website. It is also widely available on YouTube and news websites following its 2017 release.
What does “Black Hot” mean in the video?
“Black Hot” is a thermal imaging mode where hotter objects appear black and cooler objects appear white. The dark shape in the Gimbal video indicates the object (or glare) is hotter than the surrounding air.
Did the pilots see the object with their eyes?
Reports indicate that while the ATFLIR captured the object, visual confirmation with the naked eye was difficult due to distance. However, pilots in the squadron reported seeing other objects, like the “cube in a sphere,” visually during the same deployment.
What is the difference between Gimbal and Go Fast videos?
The Gimbal video shows a rotating object that appears slow or stationary against the wind. The Go Fast video, recorded during the same period, shows an object appearing to move at high speed across the surface of the water.
Has the Navy debunked the Gimbal video?
The Navy has not debunked the video; they have authenticated it. They state that the video is real footage of an aerial phenomenon that they have not identified.
What is the “Fleet” the pilots talk about?
The pilot audio mentions “a whole fleet of them.” This refers to the situational awareness radar display, which reportedly showed multiple other contacts flying in formation near the primary object being filmed.
