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This is among the first officially acknowledged infrared sensor recordings released by a U.S. government body (AARO) potentially depicting a kinetic military engagement with a UAP, arising from the February 2023 Lake Huron shoot-down incident confirmed publicly by DoD at the time.
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UAP Insight significance score
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Official Conclusion
Unresolved — AARO makes no analytical judgment, investigative conclusion, or factual determination regarding the event's validity, nature, or significance.
Official Description
On March 6, 2026, eight members of the U.S. House of Representatives requested access to 51 potentially UAP-related records allegedly held by the Department of War and the Intelligence Community. The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) identified a collection of responsive materials held on a classified network. Many of these materials lack a substantiated chain-of-custody. AARO assesses that this video, whose uploader-defined title is, “USAF ANG F-16C (callsign [CALLSIGN]) Shoots Down UAP over Lake Huron with [Weapon System], 12 Feb 2023,” is likely derived from an infrared sensor aboard a U.S. military platform operating within the United States Northern Command area of responsibility in 2023. A user uploaded this video to a classified network in February 2023. Video Duration: 00:00:46 Video Description: At the 11 second mark, the sensor focuses on an area of contrast in the center of its field-of-view. At the 20 second mark, the footage appears to depict a kinetic interaction between two distinct areas of contrast, with the initial subject of the footage fragmenting in a radial displacement pattern that suggests a high-energy event. This video description is provided for informational purposes only. Readers should not interpret any part of this description as reflecting an analytical judgment, investigative conclusion, or factual determination regarding the described event’s validity, nature, or significance.
Key Findings
This document is an AARO assessment of a 46-second classified infrared sensor video uploaded to a classified network in February 2023, whose uploader-defined title describes an USAF ANG F-16C shooting down a UAP over Lake Huron on 12 February 2023. AARO identifies the video as likely derived from a U.S. military infrared sensor platform operating within NORTHCOM, but explicitly notes the materials lack a substantiated chain-of-custody. The document was released in response to a March 2026 congressional request for 51 potentially UAP-related records held by the Department of War and the Intelligence Community.
Analyst Notes
Critical limitation: AARO explicitly states these materials lack a substantiated chain-of-custody, meaning the video's provenance and authenticity cannot be confirmed. The uploader-defined title—which names a callsign, weapon system, and specific engagement—was assigned by an anonymous user, not by an official investigative body. AARO's video description is explicitly non-analytical and makes no factual determination about the event. The 'radial displacement pattern' and 'kinetic interaction' language describes visual contrast changes in infrared footage and does not constitute confirmation of a shoot-down or UAP engagement. The weapon system and F-16C callsign are redacted, further limiting independent verification.
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Official video via DVIDS · Open on DVIDS ↗
AI analysis by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 22, 2026