★Historically significant

This document references the 12 February 2023 Lake Huron shoot-down event — one of four objects downed by the U.S. military in a single week — and presents infrared sensor footage of a purported kinetic engagement with an unidentified aerial object, making it a primary sensor record of a historically unprecedented publicly-acknowledged military UAP interdiction.

DOW-UAP-PR071, "USAF ANG F-16C (callsign [CALLSIGN]) Shoots Down UAP over Lake Huron with [Weapon System], 12 Feb 2023"

Department of WarVideoVideo ReportLight redactionPURSUE Release 1

7/10

significant, well-sourced

UAP Insight significance score

Location: NORTHCOM
Incident date: 2023
Duration: approximately 46 seconds (video duration); kinetic event occurs at the 20-second mark
Witnesses: Sensor only
Released: May 22, 2026

UAP Characteristics

? Unknown shapeLuminous

Evidence Types

IR Video

Government Programs Referenced

AAROPURSUE

Official Conclusion

No conclusion stated; AARO explicitly withholds any analytical judgment on 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

→AARO assessed the video is likely derived from an infrared sensor aboard a U.S. military platform operating within NORTHCOM's area of responsibility in 2023.
→The video's user-defined title claims an F-16C ANG aircraft shot down a UAP over Lake Huron on 12 February 2023 using a redacted weapon system.
→At the 20-second mark, the footage appears to show a kinetic interaction between two areas of contrast, with the primary subject fragmenting in a radial displacement pattern suggesting a high-energy event.
→AARO explicitly states the video description is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an analytical judgment, investigative conclusion, or factual determination.
→The materials were identified in response to an 6 March 2026 congressional request from eight House members for access to 51 potentially UAP-related records, and many lack a substantiated chain-of-custody.

UAP Insight Analysis— AI generated, not official

AARO has identified a 46-second infrared sensor video uploaded to a classified network in February 2023, whose user-defined title describes an USAF Air National Guard F-16C shooting down a UAP over Lake Huron on 12 February 2023. The video appears to show an infrared target fragmenting in a radial pattern consistent with a high-energy kinetic event at the 20-second mark. AARO notes the materials lack a substantiated chain-of-custody and explicitly declines to render any analytical or investigative judgment on the event's validity or nature.

Analyst Notes

AARO explicitly declines to make any analytical or investigative judgment about the event. The materials lack a substantiated chain-of-custody, undermining evidential integrity. The video title is user-defined and not verified by AARO as accurately describing the event. The callsign and weapon system are redacted. No independent sensor corroboration beyond the single infrared feed is described. The fragmentation pattern is described as 'suggesting' a high-energy event, not confirming one.

Extracted Entities

Agencies & Organizations

Department of WarAll-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO)U.S. House of RepresentativesU.S. Air Force Air National GuardUnited States Northern Command (NORTHCOM)Intelligence Community

Locations

Lake HuronUnited States Northern Command (NORTHCOM)

Aircraft & Objects

USAF ANG F-16CUAP (unidentified aerial phenomenon — subject of infrared footage, subsequently fragmented)

Dates

12 February 2023 (incident date per video title)

Official video via DVIDS · Open on DVIDS ↗

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AI analysis by claude-sonnet-4-6 · July 20, 2026