In 2020, U.S. military MQ-9 Reaper drones operating over the Persian Gulf tracked multiple unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) formations. Pentagon documentation from Luna’s Congressional correspondence classifies these encounters under the operational designation “Hackney” — a cataloguing code applied to a related sequence of documented events.
The encounters represent part of a series of documented UAP encounters recorded by U.S. military drone platforms across the Middle East region. The objects appeared in multiple configurations, ranging from paired formations to larger groupings. MQ-9 Reaper thermal and visual sensors captured the footage, providing both infrared and conventional imaging data.
Operational Context
The Hackney series designates encounters that occurred during routine surveillance operations. Military drone platforms including the MQ-9 Reaper have become primary documentation systems for UAP observations, given their extended flight duration and advanced sensor packages. The thermal imaging capability of these systems provides detailed thermal signatures of the tracked objects.
According to Pentagon records, the classification designation “Hackney” suggests the Department of Defense tracked and catalogued these as a related operational sequence rather than isolated incidents. The use of formal classification codes reflects established documentation protocols within the Department of Defense.
Congressional Request
These encounters form part of a broader set of 46 classified UAP videos requested by Luna in her March 2026 Congressional letter. The request seeks declassification and public disclosure of documented UAP encounters captured by U.S. military sensors, with the Hackney series representing one significant subset of the requested material.
The Persian Gulf encounters underscore the geographic scope of documented UAP activity — spanning from Middle East operations to North American airspace and maritime regions. Military drone documentation of UAP activity has become increasingly central to understanding the scope and frequency of these phenomena.
Documentation of the Hackney series remains classified, though Luna’s Congressional request has elevated the visibility of these encounters in ongoing UAP transparency discussions.