The Gimbal UFO Incident (2015)

When a U.S. Navy Camera Captured a Mysterious Rotating Object in the Sky

Atlantic Ocean — January 21, 2015.
During a routine U.S. Navy training mission off the eastern coast of the United States, pilots flying advanced fighter jets recorded one of the most intriguing UFO videos ever released to the public. The footage, now widely known as the “Gimbal” video, appears to show a mysterious airborne object rotating or “tilting” while flying at high speed above the clouds.

The encounter quickly became one of the most discussed UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) cases in modern military history.

A Strange Object Appears on Sensors

The incident occurred during training exercises involving F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jets launched from the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. While flying patrol missions, pilots began detecting unusual objects on radar and other sensors.

One of these objects was eventually locked onto by the aircraft’s AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR infrared targeting system, which recorded a 34-second infrared video showing a dark, oval-shaped object moving through the clouds.

The pilots’ surprised reactions can be heard in the cockpit audio:

“Look at that thing, dude!”
“Wow, what is that, man?”

At one point in the video, the object appears to rotate or tilt sideways in mid-air, which is where the nickname “Gimbal” originates.

The Pentagon Confirms the Footage

The footage first circulated publicly after being leaked in 2017. In April 2020, the U.S. Department of Defense officially released the video along with two other famous UFO clips known as “FLIR1” and “GoFast.”

Pentagon officials confirmed that the videos were authentic recordings taken by Navy aircraft. However, they emphasized that the objects seen in the footage remain unidentified, meaning their origin and nature have not been determined.

Unusual Flight Characteristics

According to reports from pilots and analysts, the object displayed several unusual features:

• No visible wings or propulsion system

• A consistent infrared heat signature

• Apparent rotation while maintaining forward flight

• Possible sudden changes in direction

Some aviators involved in the incident also reported that the object may have been part of a larger group of unidentified craft flying in formation nearby.

These characteristics led many observers to question whether the object could be a conventional aircraft or drone.

Competing Explanations

Despite the mystery surrounding the video, several explanations have been proposed:

1. Advanced Military Technology
Some analysts suggest the object could be an experimental aircraft developed by the United States or a foreign nation.

2. Sensor or Camera Effects
Skeptics argue that the apparent “rotation” may be caused by the infrared camera’s gimbal mechanism or glare from a distant aircraft engine.

3. Unknown Aerial Phenomenon
Others believe the object represents a genuinely unexplained aerial phenomenon that requires further scientific investigation.

So far, no definitive explanation has been confirmed.

A Case That Sparked Global Debate

The Gimbal video became one of the key pieces of evidence discussed in the modern UAP debate. Along with other military encounters, it helped push governments and scientists to take the phenomenon more seriously.

In recent years, the U.S. military and intelligence agencies have created official programs to study unidentified aerial phenomena, recognizing that unexplained objects in restricted airspace could represent potential safety or security concerns.

✅ Today, the Gimbal UFO incident remains unresolved.
More than a decade after the encounter, the rotating object captured by Navy pilots still stands as one of the most puzzling pieces of UFO footage ever released.