Southeast Asia Triangles Case Resolution

UNCLASSIFIED

All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office
U.S. Department of Defense

(U) Case: “Southeast Asia Triangles”
Case Resolution | 17 March 2023

(U) Case Overview
(U) AARO assesses that the subjects of the “Southeast
Asia Triangles” case from 2017 almost certainly are
cone-shaped, static fishing nets floating on the surface
of the ocean. This conclusion is based on a thorough
review of the evidence by AARO’s Intelligence and
Science and Technology (S&T) Partners.
 (U) The image was originally flagged as containing
potentially anomalous objects and posing a risk to
navigation. Additional imagery of the area from 2023
was discovered and collected.
 (U) Both the Intelligence and S&T teams compared
the size, shape, and location of the initial image to
existing and subsequent images in the same region,
and compared it to libraries of known morphologies.

(U) Intelligence Assessment
(U) AARO’s Intelligence partners examined the image
and compared it to other imagery. Specifically, they
located clearer images in the vicinity of the objects in
question.

(U) Case Essentials
(U) Six triangular objects in a formation
were originally flagged as potentially
anomalous and potentially posing a risk
to navigation
(U) Location: Southeast Asia
(U) Date: 30 August 2017
(U) Altitude: N/A
(U) Shape: Six dark triangles
(U) Reporter: An Intelligence
Community Member
(U) Sensor: Satellite imagery
(U) Behavior: Noted as possible risk to
navigation
(U) Case Status: Resolved; Objects are
fishing nets on the ocean surface

 (U) The images from 2023 display several triangles and were confirmed to be static, cone-shaped
fishing nets.
 (U) These triangular fishing nets were compared to the black triangles from the 2017 imagery and it
was confirmed that they are all are approximately the same size of about 11m x 7m.

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 (U) AARO’s Intelligence partners have high confidence in their identification of these objects
and assess they do not pose a hazard to navigation.

(U) Science & Technology Assessment
(U) Three of AARO’s S&T partners agree that the objects imaged in 2017 are fishing nets.
(U) S&T Partner One specifically noted that subsequent images were especially clear; the
location and the size comparison were critical in determining the assessment.
(U) S&T Partner Two acquired and analyzed other images of the same geographical area which
revealed multiple similar triangular shapes taken in late 2022 and early 2023. These images also
show significant downstream turbidity, confirming that these nets are on the water.
(U) S&T Partner Three also found stock footage of fishing nets on the same river, which confirms
the underlying analysis.

(U) Figure 1: “Southeast Asia Triangles” Comparison

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