2010 · About 340 NM north-north-west of Anápolis, Brazil, at FL250
An F-5M's radar paints a Mach 1.5 target
Part ofOrdered to fire
Primary document. COMDABRA 'Ficha de Controle de Tráfego Hotel' (ARX.0.0.670), sections 1–2: 9 Jul 2010, 19:15Z, F-5M Grifo radar contact, target at FL380 logged at Mach 1.5–1.6, south to north, 15 s. Cropped above the observer section. · Arquivo Nacional (Brazil), fund BR DFANBSB ARX
When9 July 2010, 19:15Z
WhereAbout 340 NM north-north-west of Anápolis, Brazil, at FL250
Backing1 independent
Evidenceofficial records
On 9 July 2010 a Brazilian Air Force F-5M at 25,000 ft picked up a head-on target about 13,000 ft above it, moving south to north at a logged Mach 1.5–1.6. The wingman's radar got it too. There was no visual and no recording. The flight lead, a named major, filed it on an air-defence form.
Evidence, in date order (1)
- 12 Jul 2010COMDABRA 'Ficha de Controle de Tráfego Hotel'officialform taken by CINDACTA 1 on 12 Jul 2010 ARX.0.0.670
How plausible · High
A named major and his wingman both painted a Mach 1.5 target on their radars, logged on an air-defence form.
- ●●Access Fighter pilots with radar lock.
- ●●No gain sought An air-defence form.
- ●●Character record Air Force major.
- ●●Independent convergence The wingman's radar got it too.
- ●●Checkable details check out COMDABRA form on record.
- ●●Physical traces or official reaction Two radars.
Plausibility weighs how well an account fits where secrecy hides the documents by design, so missing records never count against it. Strength measures what is documented. Assessed 2026-10-23.
Claims
The Grifo radar painted a target at about FL380, head-on, south to north, logged at Mach 1.5–1.6, closing from 20 to 5 NM in 15 seconds; the No. 3 wingman's radar also got it. No visual, no recording.firsthandOn the recordMaj. Carlos Noberto Ronconi Junior, 1º GAC, COMDABRA traffic form
Where
About 340 NM north-north-west of Anápolis, Brazil, at FL250
11.0°S 51.0°W · region only
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