Did Infrared Glare Create the Gimbal Rotation Illusion?

Introduction

The Navy’s “Gimbal” video became one of the most discussed modern UFO clips because the bright object in the centre appears to rotate dramatically while flying through the sky. To many viewers, the rotation looked like a craft physically turning on its side in a way unlike a normal aircraft. But a growing body of technical analysis argues that the apparent rotation is more likely an infrared glare effect produced by the camera system itself rather than evidence that the object was spinning. [youtube.com]youtube.comly just looks like the IR glare of a distant jet engine… [youtube.com]youtube.comGimbal UFOA New AnalysisThe gimbal ufo video almost certainly shows a glare that hides the actual object and that the shape of the glare is only ro…

This distinction matters in AI-assisted UFO sighting investigation because the visible shape in infrared footage is not always the real shape of the target. In thermal imaging, a hot engine or bright heat source can spread into geometric blobs, spikes or diamonds that reflect the optics of the sensor more than the structure of the object being filmed. The Gimbal case became a major example of how camera behaviour, stabilisation systems and infrared glare can create apparently anomalous motion from an ordinary target. [leonarddavid.com]leonarddavid.comdebunking navy ufo videosDebunking Navy “UFO” Videos30 Apr 2020 — What you see is the infrared glare of the engines, larger than the plane. It looks like it is ro… [VICE]vice.comthe skeptics guide to the pentagons ufo videosThe Skeptic's Guide to the Pentagon's UFO Videos6 May 2020 —… gimbal mounted camera can produce the effects seen in the Navy footage…Published: May 2020

How infrared glare creates misleading shapes

Forward-looking infrared systems, usually called FLIR systems, do not work like ordinary visible-light cameras. Instead of recording reflected light, they detect heat contrast. Very bright infrared sources can overwhelm parts of the imaging chain and create bloom, glare or diffraction-like artefacts around the target.

In the Gimbal footage, the brightest part of the scene is likely the heat signature of engines or exhaust viewed at long distance. Analysts arguing for the glare explanation point out that the object’s apparent “craft shape” closely resembles known infrared blooming patterns rather than a sharply resolved vehicle outline. [2leonarddavid.com]leonarddavid.comdebunking navy ufo videosDebunking Navy “UFO” Videos30 Apr 2020 — What you see is the infrared glare of the engines, larger than the plane. It looks like it is ro…

Several details pushed investigators towards this interpretation:

• The object appears brightest at the centre with symmetrical flaring around it, a common thermal glare pattern.
• The apparent outline changes smoothly rather than revealing fixed structural details.
• The rotation happens while the object remains essentially featureless.
• The surrounding image contains sharpening artefacts and halo effects typical of infrared processing systems. [leonarddavid.com]leonarddavid.comdebunking navy ufo videosDebunking Navy “UFO” Videos30 Apr 2020 — What you see is the infrared glare of the engines, larger than the plane. It looks like it is ro…

This does not prove the underlying target was definitely an ordinary aircraft. A real unknown object could still generate glare. The narrower claim is that the rotating diamond-like shape seen on screen may belong to the optics, not the target itself. [Reddit]reddit.comGimbal UFORedditGimbal UFO - A New Analysis: Mick West lays out the more…March 14, 2022 — The gimbal ufo video almost certainly shows a glare th…Published: March 14, 2022

That distinction is crucial for evidence handling. An AI workflow that extracts “craft geometry” directly from infrared frames without modelling sensor artefacts risks treating optical distortion as physical structure.

What the Gimbal camera system was actually doing

The “Gimbal” name itself comes from the camera mount system used by the targeting pod. A gimbal is a stabilised rotating mount that allows a sensor to keep tracking a target while the aircraft carrying it changes direction. [Wikipedia]WikipediaMarch 15, 2026 — A gimbal is a pivoted support that permits rotation of an object about an axis. A set of three gimbals, one mounted on t…Published: March 15, 2026

The ATFLIR targeting pod used by Navy aircraft contains multiple rotating and stabilising components. As the tracked target moved relative to the aircraft, the camera system adjusted its orientation to maintain lock. Technical analyses suggest the visible rotation in the video lines up closely with one of these stabilisation transitions. [youtube.com]youtube.comthis rotation…. UFO files: Disclosure debate & government… [youtube.com]youtube.comy, he presents it as just "could the derotation…

One of the most important concepts is “derotation”. Because the sensor mount itself rotates during tracking, the system internally compensates to keep the horizon visually stable for the pilot. Analysts studying patents and behaviour of similar systems argue that this correction process can make optical glare rotate independently from the background scene. [The Guardian]theguardian.comThe Guardian I study UFOs – and I don't believe the alien hypeHere's why11 Jun 2021 — I looked up the camera's patents; these revealed a de-rotation mechanism used to correct for “gimbal roll”, which…

The result is counterintuitive:

This is one reason the clip became so persuasive. Human observers instinctively assume a rotating visible shape represents a rotating solid object. But in stabilised infrared systems, the shape may instead be linked to the camera’s internal optical alignment. [youtube.com]youtube.comThe IR Glare Hypothesis. Mick West · 3:55 · Gimbal UFO: New Footage Proves Glare Rotation.Read more… [youtube.com]youtube.comtigator Mick West and tech expert Dr Ramsey Faragher. #UAP #…

Analysts supporting the glare explanation also noted that the rotation occurs near moments where the camera’s angular tracking passes through key alignment transitions. [Hacker News]news.ycombinator.comHacker NewsIt's appropriate that the first video is called "gimbal"…27 May 2019 — The rotation of the object happens exactly around t…Published: May 2019

Why the background does not rotate with the object

One of the main objections raised against the glare hypothesis was simple: if the camera rotated, why does the entire image not rotate too?

The answer proposed by infrared-camera analysts is that the ATFLIR system actively compensates for camera roll to stabilise the displayed scene. The background therefore remains visually level even while parts of the optical system are changing orientation internally. [youtube.com]youtube.com“Gimbal” UFO 3D Reconstruction (likely a private jetVFX Artists DEBUNK Pentagon UFO Videos…

According to this interpretation, the glare artefact behaves differently from the external world because it originates inside the optical path. The system’s correction mechanisms stabilise the external scene but can leave internally generated glare patterns rotating relative to that scene. [youtube.com]youtube.comVFX Artists DEBUNK Pentagon UFO VideosUFO Videos Explained: Mick West's Expert Analysis…

This is why some analyses recreated similar effects by filming bright lights through rotating optical systems. The reproduced glare rotated in ways resembling the Navy footage even when the actual light source did not rotate. [Boing Boing]boingboing.netnavy ufo moves with camera mechanisms in glaring problem for alien fansBoing Boing"Navy UFO" moves with camera mechanisms in glaring…Mar 14, 2022 — The UFO bumps, turns and rolls with camera gimbal movemen…

Not every imaging specialist agrees on the precise mechanism. Some critics argue that parts of the proposed explanation oversimplify the optical design of the ATFLIR pod or incorrectly model where the glare originates. [Metabunk]metabunk.orga gimbal glare explainer.12230MetabunkA Gimbal Glare Explainer17 Jan 2022 — The rotating spikes you see in that military video are typical lens flares, probably caused…

However, even among critics of specific reconstructions, there is broad acknowledgement that infrared systems can generate misleading artefacts and that the visible shape in the video cannot automatically be treated as the true shape of the target. [Metabunk]metabunk.orgGImbal Glare, Rotation, Clouds, and Angles8 Dec 2025 — it is alleged that glare can rotate independent of what the camera is doing…

Why object shape is unreliable in infrared UFO footage

The Gimbal case highlighted a broader investigative problem: thermal imagery often destroys the visual cues people rely on when identifying objects.

In ordinary daylight footage, investigators can use:

• Wing geometry
• Surface detail
• Reflections
• Relative scale
• Atmospheric perspective

In infrared footage, many of those clues disappear. The image instead emphasises heat intensity and sensor response. Bright exhausts can become oversized glowing forms while cooler aircraft structures vanish almost completely. [leonarddavid.com]leonarddavid.comdebunking navy ufo videosDebunking Navy “UFO” Videos30 Apr 2020 — What you see is the infrared glare of the engines, larger than the plane. It looks like it is ro…

This creates several recurring UFO interpretation errors:

The Gimbal video contains several of these effects simultaneously, which is why it became such an influential case study in sensor interpretation.

For AI-assisted investigation systems, this means raw object segmentation is not enough. Automated analysis needs metadata about:

Without that context, an AI model may confidently classify optical artefacts as physical flight characteristics.

What remains unresolved in the Gimbal case

The glare explanation addresses the apparent rotation, but it does not fully resolve every aspect of the wider encounter.

Former Navy personnel associated with the incident described additional radar contacts and reported multiple objects operating in the area. Some reconstruction efforts argue the target’s inferred motion still appears unusual under certain distance assumptions. [arXiv]arxiv.orgarXivReconstruction of Potential Flight Paths for the January 2015 Gimbal UAPJune 15, 2023…Published: June 15, 2023

That means two separate questions must remain distinct:

1. Did the video itself show a craft physically rotating?
2. What was the underlying object being tracked?

The glare hypothesis mainly addresses the first question. It argues that the visible rotation is likely an artefact of the infrared imaging system. It does not necessarily identify the target with certainty. [Reddit]reddit.comGimbal video is NOT debunked!: New Chris Lehto vid: r/ufoThen he claimed a derotation device in the ATFLIR was responsible for the Gimba…

This separation is important in disciplined UFO investigation. A sensor artefact explanation for one visual feature does not automatically solve the entire case. But it can remove one of the strongest apparent indicators of extraordinary behaviour.

Why the Gimbal debate matters for AI-assisted UFO analysis

The Gimbal footage became a landmark example of why UFO investigations increasingly require sensor analysis rather than frame-by-frame visual intuition alone.

An AI-assisted workflow examining a modern sighting should treat imaging artefacts as a first-order investigative category, not a minor afterthought. In practice, that means:

The Gimbal case also demonstrates why confidence scoring matters. The video may still depict a genuinely unidentified object, but the famous “rotating craft” interpretation rests on evidence that may be explained by infrared glare and camera mechanics rather than exotic flight behaviour. [The Independent]independent.co.uknavy ufo video camera glare b2037965The IndependentFamous Navy UFO video is camera glare hiding something…18 Mar 2022 — It's an object that rotates in a way that matches…

Endnotes

1. Source: youtube.com
   Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X1PRDbtiF0
   Source snippet

   ly just looks like the IR glare of a distant jet engine...

2. Source: youtube.com
   Title: Gimbal UFO
   Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsEjV8DdSbs
   Source snippet

   A New AnalysisThe gimbal ufo video almost certainly shows a glare that hides the actual object and that the shape of the glare is only ro...

3. Source: leonarddavid.com
   Title: debunking navy ufo videos
   Link: https://www.leonarddavid.com/debunking-navy-ufo-videos/
   Source snippet

   Debunking Navy “UFO” Videos30 Apr 2020 — What you see is the infrared glare of the engines, larger than the plane. It looks like it is ro...

4. Source: vice.com
   Title: the skeptics guide to the pentagons ufo videos
   Link: https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-skeptics-guide-to-the-pentagons-ufo-videos/
   Source snippet

   The Skeptic's Guide to the Pentagon's UFO Videos6 May 2020 —... gimbal mounted camera can produce the effects seen in the Navy footage...

   Published: May 2020

5. Source: reddit.com
   Title: Gimbal UFO
   Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/tdud5t/gimbal_ufo_a_new_analysis_mick_west_lays_out_the/
   Source snippet

   RedditGimbal UFO - A New Analysis: Mick West lays out the more...March 14, 2022 — The gimbal ufo video almost certainly shows a glare th...

   Published: March 14, 2022

6. Source: Wikipedia
   Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimbal
   Source snippet

   March 15, 2026 — A gimbal is a pivoted support that permits rotation of an object about an axis. A set of three gimbals, one mounted on t...

   Published: March 15, 2026

7. Source: youtube.com
   Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka_bX9Hx1H0
   Source snippet

   this rotation.... UFO files: Disclosure debate & government...

8. Source: metabunk.org
   Title: a gimbal glare explainer.12230
   Link: https://www.metabunk.org/threads/a-gimbal-glare-explainer.12230/
   Source snippet

   MetabunkA Gimbal Glare Explainer17 Jan 2022 — The rotating spikes you see in that military video are typical lens flares, probably caused...

9. Source: reddit.com
   Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/ufo/comments/ntt8ln/gimbal_video_is_not_debunked_new_chris_lehto_vid/
   Source snippet

   Gimbal video is NOT debunked!: New Chris Lehto vid: r/ufoThen he claimed a derotation device in the ATFLIR was responsible for the Gimba...

10. Source: youtube.com
    Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OVt_SkhCdw
    Source snippet

    y, he presents it as just "could the derotation...

11. Source: arxiv.org
    Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2306.08773
    Source snippet

    arXivReconstruction of Potential Flight Paths for the January 2015 Gimbal UAPJune 15, 2023...

    Published: June 15, 2023

12. Source: reddit.com
    Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/ufo/comments/m251sy/mick_west_attempts_to_debunk_the_entire_gimbal/
    Source snippet

    t at his phone and calling it case closed...

13. Source: reddit.com
    Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/15fznjb/just_watched_mick_west_debunk_the_gimbal_video/

14. Source: youtube.com
    Link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-4ZqTjKmhn4FcIJPKnJVGskuXDjHnTOS
    Source snippet

    The IR Glare Hypothesis. Mick West · 3:55 · Gimbal UFO: New Footage Proves Glare Rotation.Read more...

15. Source: youtube.com
    Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVrlG8RhIGU
    Source snippet

    tigator Mick West and tech expert Dr Ramsey Faragher. #UAP #...

16. Source: metabunk.org
    Link: https://www.metabunk.org/threads/gimbal-glare-rotation-clouds-and-angles.14625/
    Source snippet

    GImbal Glare, Rotation, Clouds, and Angles8 Dec 2025 — it is alleged that glare can rotate independent of what the camera is doing...

17. Source: Wikipedia
    Title: Pentagon UFO videos
    Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentagon_UFO_videos
    Source snippet

    Pentagon UFO videosThe Pentagon UFO videos are selected visual recordings of Forward-looking infrared (FLIR) targeting cameras from Un...

18. Source: youtube.com
    Title: “Gimbal” UFO 3D Reconstruction (likely a private jet)
    Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGzJ9dx3n4o
    Source snippet

    VFX Artists DEBUNK Pentagon UFO Videos...

19. Source: youtube.com
    Title: VFX Artists DEBUNK Pentagon UFO Videos
    Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHDlfIaBEqw
    Source snippet

    UFO Videos Explained: Mick West's Expert Analysis...

20. Source: youtube.com
    Title: UFO Videos Explained: Mick West’s Expert Analysis
    Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_4QF__92q0
    Source snippet

    The Truth About The Navy UFO Videos...

21. Source: youtube.com
    Title: The Truth About The Navy UFO Videos
    Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y85Mv8P32-k
    Source snippet

    “Gimbal” UFO 3D Reconstruction (likely a private jet) - YouTube “Gimbal” UFO 3D Reconstruction (likely a private jet) - YouTube...

22. Source: youtu.be
    Title: TWi T Tech Podcast Network
    Link: https://youtu.be/ciopi2r7j-k
    Source snippet

    "Get "Escaping the Rabbit Hole" on Amazon (Affiliate Link): [https://amzn.to/42HqpK1..."](https://amzn.to/42HqpK1...")...

23. Source: theguardian.com
    Title: The Guardian I study UFOs – and I don’t believe the alien hype
    Link: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jun/11/i-study-ufos-and-i-dont-believe-the-alien-hype-heres-why
    Source snippet

    Here's why11 Jun 2021 — I looked up the camera's patents; these revealed a de-rotation mechanism used to correct for “gimbal roll”, which...

24. Source: news.ycombinator.com
    Link: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20019375
    Source snippet

    Hacker NewsIt's appropriate that the first video is called "gimbal"...27 May 2019 — The rotation of the object happens exactly around t...

    Published: May 2019

25. Source: independent.co.uk
    Title: navy ufo video camera glare b2037965
    Link: https://www.independent.co.uk/space/navy-ufo-video-camera-glare-b2037965.html
    Source snippet

    The IndependentFamous Navy UFO video is camera glare hiding something...18 Mar 2022 — It's an object that rotates in a way that matches...

26. Source: boingboing.net
    Title: navy ufo moves with camera mechanisms in glaring problem for alien fans
    Link: https://boingboing.net/2022/03/14/navy-ufo-moves-with-camera-mechanisms-in-glaring-problem-for-alien-fans.html
    Source snippet

    Boing Boing"Navy UFO" moves with camera mechanisms in glaring...Mar 14, 2022 — The UFO bumps, turns and rolls with camera gimbal movemen...

Additional References

1. Source: leonardodrs.com
   Link: https://www.leonardodrs.com/news/press-releases/leonardo-drs-unveils-new-5-inch-electro-optical-infrared-stabilized-gimbal-for-group-1-uas-platforms/
   Source snippet

   Leonardo DRS Unveils New 5-inch Electro-Optical/Infrared...11 Sept 2023 — Leonardo DRS unveils a 5-inch EO/IR stabilized gimbal for Grou...

2. Source: petapixel.com
   Title: famous navy ufo video was actually camera glare evidence suggests
   Link: https://petapixel.com/2022/03/14/famous-navy-ufo-video-was-actually-camera-glare-evidence-suggests/
   Source snippet

   Famous Navy UFO Video Was Actually Camera Glare...Mar 14, 2022 — Analysis of the poster child for UFO footage indicate it is not anythin...

3. Source: yahoo.com
   Title: famous navy ufo video camera 112646317
   Link: https://www.yahoo.com/news/famous-navy-ufo-video-camera-112646317.html
   Source snippet

   Famous Navy UFO video is camera glare hiding something...Mar 17, 2022 — The UFO captured on video by the Pentagon is glare on the Navy j...

4. Source: patents.google.com
   Link: https://patents.google.com/patent/US6288381B1/en
   Source snippet

   Google PatentsIntegrated system for line-of-sight stabilization and auto-...An alignment and stabilization system that automatically ali...

5. Source: interestingengineering.com
   Title: He thoroughly explains what we
   Link: https://interestingengineering.com/videos/pentagon-gimbal-ufo
   Source snippet

   Here's everything we know about the Pentagon's "Gimbal...In this video, YouTuber Mick West offers a master class lecture on the notoriou...

6. Source: dji.com
   Title: Official What is a gimbal?
   Link: https://www.dji.com/media-center/insights/what-is-gimbal
   Source snippet

   An easy-to-understand explanation of its...26 Feb 2026 — Rotation axis (2nd axis/3rd axis) This is the part that corrects the tilt and r...

7. Source: skepticalinquirer.org
   Link: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2024/12/quick-guide-to-modern-video-analysis-techniques-for-uap-and-ufos/
   Source snippet

   ave proven useful in resolving cases.Read more...

8. Source: tweaktown.com
   Link: https://www.tweaktown.com/news/87719/navy-fighter-pilot-ufo-witness-explains-the-famous-gimbal-video/index.html
   Source snippet

   Navy fighter pilot UFO witness explains the famous Gimbal...2 Aug 2022 — Lt. Ryan Graves, a former Navy fighter pilot that witnessed and...

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