Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report

“The CSG was comprised of the following ships and submarine: USS Nimitz (CVN-68), USS Princeton (CG-59), USS Chafee (DDG-90), USS Higgins (DDG-76), and the USS Louisville (SSN-724).”

“During the period of approximately 10-16 November 2004, the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG) was operating off the western coast of the United States in preparation for their deployment to the Arabian Sea.”

“The Princeton was the first Ticonderoga-class cruiser to carry the upgraded AN/SPY-1B radar system.”

“The USS Princeton on several occasions detected multiple Anomalous Aerial Vehicles (AAVs) operating in and around the vicinity of the CSG.”

“The AN/SPY-1 is an advanced, automatic detect and track, multifunctional phased-array radar. This high-powered (4 MW) radar is able to perform search, track and missile guidance functions simultaneously with a capability of over 100 targets.”

“They were detected three separate times during the week operating off the western coast of the United States and Mexico.”

“the AAV exhibited Ballistic Missile Characteristics in reference to its appearance, velocity, and indications on the radar. Since the radar was in the mode to handle Air Intercept of conventional aircraft it never obtained an accurate track”

“Since the radar was in the mode to handle Air Intercept of conventional aircraft it never obtained an accurate track of the AAVs and was quickly "dropped" by the radar meaning it was eliminated by the computer to reduce the amount of clutter on the radar, as any other false target is handled.”

“If the radar were set up in a mode for Ballistic Missile tracking they likely would have had the capability to track the AAV.”

“during the period of approximately 10-16 November 2004 while completing Tailored Ships Training Availability (TSTA) in preparation for their deployment to the Arabian Sea.”

“The Fire Control Officer, {redacted} and his technician, FCSS {redacted} initially thought the contacts were part of the COMPTUX exercise.”

“The Nimitz was home to Carrier Air Wing 11 (CVW-11)”

“CVW-11 comprised of VMFA-232 (USMC F/A-18C), VFA-14 (F/A-18E), VFA-41 (F/A-18F), VFA-94 (F/A-18C), VAQ-135 (EA-6B), VAW-117 (E-2C), HS-6 (H-60), and VRC-30 Det 3 (C-2A).”

“The only participants in the events surrounding the detection and intercept of the AAV are the USS Princeton, VAW-117, VMFA-232, and VFA-41.”

“On 14 November after again detecting the AAV, the USS Princeton took the opportunity of having a flight of two F/A-18Fs returning from a training mission to further investigate the AAV.”

“the USS Princeton took control of the F/A-18s and the E-2C remained Airborne but was no longer involved in the contact or control. The fighters were being controlled by the USS Princeton for the duration of the contact and intercept.”

“on 14 November 2004 at approximately N31 20' W117 10' about 70nm south of the U.S./Mexico Border 30 nm off the Baja Mexico Coast”

“CDR Fravor, Commanding Officer VFA-41, was the pilot of FastEagle 01.”

“FASTEAGLE 02: Pilot: LT Alex 'Cardiac' Dietrich, USN/WSO: LCDR {redacted}, USN”

“Their F/A-18F had an APG-73 radar and was set to the following parameters: Range While Search (RWS), Range Gated High, 80NM scale”

“The flight descended to between 20-24,000 feet and proceeded to the contact. CDR Fravor did not recall any indications via on-board sensor of the object. Their aircraft was not carrying a Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) pod onboard.”

“Situational awareness to the object was initially received via sporadic Link-16 tracks (Link-16 is a time division multiple access data-link) via an off-board sensor. Lt {redacted} assumed that the sensor providing the information was the USS Princeton's SPY-1 radar.”

“According to CDR Fravor the first indication he had of the unknown contact was a visual of a disturbance on the water below the AAV... he stated that it was localized underneath the object, did not appear as a trail or wake, and looked like frothy waves and foam almost as if the water was boiling.”

“According to CDR Fravor, the object's shape was like an elongated egg or a 'Tic Tac' and had a discernable midline horizontal axis. However, the object was uniformly white across the entire body. It was approximately 46 feet in length.”

“LT {redacted} described it as "solid white, smooth, with no edges. It was uniformly colored with no nacelles, pylons, or wings." When asked to describe the appearance... he said, "neither, it looked like it had a white candy-coated shell, almost like a white board."”

“CDR Fravor attempted a "helmet lock" that was unsuccessful. It is important to note that CDR Fravor was using the Joint Helmet Mounted Cuing System”

“The object was pointed in a north/south orientation and was moving both north & south and east & west, while maintaining a consistent altitude. These displacements, according to CDR Fravor, were minor.”

“the object appeared, according to CDR Fravor: "to recognize us." He assessed this from the fact the object "pointed" (realigned it's axis) in the direction of their aircraft. At this time, according to CDR Fravor, the disturbance on the water ceased.”

“the object ascended quickly and pulled lift vector on and aft of them at a supersonic speed... Poison initially reported that the "picture was clean" (no contact) but then stated "you're not going to believe this, its at your CAP" meaning that the AAV had flown to their training CAP... and had climbed to approximately 24,000 feet.”

“all aircraft systems were functional. That there were no mission computer issues or avionics issues and that there was no radio or communication interference and that they had entry into the Link-16 network.”

“The crews spoke with each other in the paraloft, discussed the object and that the flights were scheduled for the same working area. FASTEAGLE flight told LT Underwood's flight what they saw and to try to see and record what they could.”

“The radar was in a standard search mode (RWS/ 80NM/ 4bar/ intr) and the FLIR was in L+S slave (the FLIR would point in direction of an L+S track).”

“According to the radar display, the initial tracks were at approximately 30-40 nm to the south of the aircraft.”

“LT Underwood was controlling the radar and FLIR and attempted multiple times to transition the radar to Single Target Track (STT) mode on the object. The radar could not take a lock... When asked, LT Underwood stated that there were no jamming cues (strobe, champagne bubbles, "any normal EA indications"). It "just appeared as if the radar couldn't hack it."”

“The object, according to the FLIR, appeared stationary (Figure 3). There was no discernable movement from the object with the only closure being a result of the aircraft's movement.”

“LT Underwood was clear in that he couldn't confirm that it was the same object as described by FASTEAGLE flight. He never had visual, only seeing the object via the FLIR.”

“LT Underwood said that the CIVC section attempted to collect his tapes but he refused. They proceeded to their ready room where they debriefed with CDR Fravor and his flight. Copies of the tapes were made with a set being turned into the intelligence section.”

“The Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) was no known aircraft or air vehicle currently in the inventory of the United States or any foreign nation.”

“The AAV exhibited advanced low observable characteristics at multiple radar bands rendering US radar based engagement capabilities ineffective.”

“The AAV exhibited advanced aerodynamic performance with no visible control surfaces and no visible means to generate lift.”

“The AAV exhibited advanced propulsion capability by demonstrating the ability to remain stationary with little to no variation in altitude transitioning to horizontal and/or vertical velocities far greater than any known aerial vehicle with little to no visible signature.”

“The AAV possibly demonstrated the ability to 'cloak' or become invisible to the human eye or human observation.”

“The AAV possibly demonstrated a highly advanced capability to operate undersea completely undetectable by our most advanced sensors.”

“According to former LT {redacted} now a civilian working for the US Navy, who was a qualified Submarine Officer onboard the Louisville in November 2004 during the AAV activity there were no unidentified sonar contacts in the vicinity of the aerial sightings or at anytime during the operations off the coast of California.”

“Based on the lack of detection of any unidentified sonar contacts it is highly unlikely that an AAV operated below the surface of the ocean”

“The AAV did not take any offensive action against the CSG”

“He also stated that at no time did they consider the AAV a threat to the battle group.”

“On 14 November following the intercept of the AAV, CDR Fravor reported to CVIC to debrief with Intelligence. He discussed the entire mission and AAV contact with LCDR {redacted} the Carrier Air Wing Intelligence Officer.”

“LCDR {redacted} completed an email based MISREP. It was submitted via email because the F/A-18s were on a training mission. The email-based report including the FLIR video was sent via a secure system to CAPT {redacted} at 3rd Fleet Intelligence, their higher echelon command.”

“CAPT {redacted} confirmed that the MISREP was received via email on or about 14 November 2004. Since this MISREP was completed during training and preparation for deployment it was read and acknowledged by 3rd Fleet N2 but was not forwarded to anyone up the chain of command.”

“The commander of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group during the intercept was Rear Admiral D.C. Curtis”

“Admiral Peter Daly assumed command of the CSG in January 2005 after the intercept and had no knowledge or involvement in this incident.”