A 10 warthog with something else in video.

I was directed to this video this morning.
The description says someone with inside knowledge at the DHS acquired and sent a recording of an unknown object flying around an A10 warthog.
The video is apparently from Davis Monthan AFB.

I watched most of the video - mainly the slow motion sequence of events at the end of it.
But there definitely is something flying about with the Tank Killer in the frame.

Personally, I think the object may be a bird flying in the foreground while the A10 maneuvers in the background.

At the beginning of the video, there is a breakdown of events and some details that may assist in narrowing things down.

Have a browse ATS, let’s get some opinions and wild speculation like the good old days!

I dig it. Better video than I thought it would be.

Who knows. I guess it’s one of those

Circle gets a square ufo

I mean cube in a sphere

Haven't watched the entire video yet, but the A-10 wasn't "turning to investigate", he was turning to remain in the airspace they were using, and close to whatever the simulated target was.

Yeah that one of them “up there” videos

Hard to rule out balloons or drone when it catches back up with the A-10 after turning

We don’t have much left, unless it’s a bug which was in the perfect location location and distance to stay relatively in frame/shot

GOOD 👍🏼 4/5

The way that it tracks behind the A-10, like it's on a string, I'm going to go with an AN/ALE-50 towed decoy.

a reply to: Zaphod58

When the object first comes into view, it is ahead of the A10.

a reply to: Wide-Eyes

Which it would be if the A-10 had just completed a turn, and the decoy hadn't yet. The distance it's towed behind the aircraft is classified, but it has to be far enough back that a missile hitting it wouldn't damage the aircraft it's protecting.

Well it looks as though it has been confirmed by Mick West.

He was thinking the same as I, that it was a bird.

Mick extracted all the frames from the video, over laid and stabilized them
Here's a link to the final results which clearly shows what resembles a birds flight path.

Link to final results

originally posted by: Macenroe82
Well it looks as though it has been confirmed by Mick West.

He was thinking the same as I, that it was a bird.

Mick extracted all the frames from the video, over laid and stabilized them
Here's a link to the final results which clearly shows what resembles a birds flight path.

Link to final results

That makes sense to me, I think I can almost see the wings flapping if I advance that video frame by frame or play it slowly. It's not perfectly clear, but it's suggestive when it changes shape like a bird flapping its wings would.

Mick is a good analyst.

originally posted by: Arbitrageur

originally posted by: Macenroe82
Well it looks as though it has been confirmed by Mick West.

He was thinking the same as I, that it was a bird.

Mick extracted all the frames from the video, over laid and stabilized them
Here's a link to the final results which clearly shows what resembles a birds flight path.

Link to final results

That makes sense to me, I think I can almost see the wings flapping if I advance that video frame by frame or play it slowly. It's not perfectly clear, but it's suggestive when it changes shape like a bird flapping its wings would.

Mick is a good analyst.

The guy filming must be an ornithologist then because he was sure intrigued by that bird.

Screw the A10, "Let's film the bird for a while". 🐦

The Aviationist posted these pictures of a Eurofighter Typhoon trailing its Towed Radar Decoy during an unclassified test. It's the same concept and execution as the AN/ALE-50.

a reply to: Arbitrageur

Yeah, I figured it was a bird.
At the end of the original video its played in slow motion, and like you said, the shape change is suggestive of a bird flapping its wings.
And yes, Mick always puts in the work, which pays off most of the time.

a reply to: Zaphod58

And I wanted to thank you for posting about that decoy.

There was another video I saw about 5 months back that had something trailing behind a fighter jet - with matching speed lol.
Seeing those pics of the decoy makes me think thats what was probably being towed.

a reply to: Macenroe82

It's not something you see often. Those are about the only actual pictures I've seen of a decoy deployed. Usually it's a rendering.

a reply to: Zaphod58

So is it a bird or is it a decoy?

a reply to: Wide-Eyes

Without better resolution you can't tell, but I'm betting decoy. In all the shots with both of them at the same time, it follows the A-10 like it's on a string. It always seems to stay close to the A-10, and turns not long after the A-10 does.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Okay then. That's the most valid explanation so far.

I remember when these threads used to be 10 pages within a few hours...

a reply to: Wide-Eyes

Me too. I was hoping for a slew of people dropping their speculations down. I wanted to read some really out there, flat earth- pledian, mild drug-induced psychosis, like theories. Lol

A little google earth sleuthing……

The Flir truck mounted system coordinates in the top left hand corner of the display is consistent throughout the video…..which equates to the easier format for GE to use… 31.55610, -109.27552

The coordinates are South East of Tucson which is where Davis Monthan AFB is at. I’m assuming the coords area is the AFB test and or weapons range for aircraft.

You can see what looks like some cratering and low and behold, two trucks at the coordinates, one of which could possibly be a Flir system type truck….…You could see the shadow of a truck mounted mast!

What a coincidence to still be in the google earth database…..

Anyway just general FYI