WASHINGTON, — May 23, 2026 : Newly declassified infrared footage released by the U.S. Department of War has provided the first visual record of the February 12, 2023, shootdown of an unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAP) over Lake Huron, with federal analysts assessing that the object was likely balloon-like in nature.
The 46-second black-and-white infrared video, officially titled “USAF ANG F-16C (callsign [CALLSIGN]) Shoots Down UAP over Lake Huron with [Weapon System], 12 Feb 2023,” was made public on May 22, 2026, as part of the second batch of records released under the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE), a federal transparency initiative established to review and declassify unidentified aerial incident files.
The footage, recorded by an F-16C fighter jet’s Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP), documents an engagement that concluded a week of heightened military aerial interceptions across North American airspace in February 2023 following changes to radar filtering systems and Rules of Engagement (ROE), which enabled earlier detection of slow-moving airborne objects considered potential risks to aviation and national security.
Lake Huron Engagement
On February 12, 2023, an F-16C from the Minnesota Air National Guard’s 148th Fighter Wing, based in Duluth, intercepted an unidentified object flying in Canadian airspace above Lake Huron before it entered the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) monitoring zone. The aircraft reportedly launched from Madison, Wisconsin, to engage the target.
Military officials at the time described the object as octagonal in appearance and operating at an altitude of approximately 20,000 feet. Authorities said it lacked a visible propulsion system or identifiable payload but was regarded as a possible hazard to commercial aviation because of its altitude and flight path.
According to newly released details, an initial AIM-9X Sidewinder infrared-guided missile reportedly missed the object during the interception. A second AIM-9X missile successfully struck and destroyed the target at approximately 2:42 p.m. CST, ending the operation.
Footage Analysis and AARO Assessment
The newly declassified footage was assessed by the U.S. government’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), which stated that the infrared sensor begins tracking a distinct area of thermal contrast near the center of the frame at approximately the 11-second mark.
At around the 20-second mark, the footage depicts what AARO described as a “kinetic interaction” between two distinct areas of contrast, representing the missile’s impact with the target. Following the strike, the object fragments in what officials described as a radial displacement pattern, consistent with a high-energy event.
Visual analysis of the footage indicates the object possessed a roughly spherical structure with a cluster of tangled wires or cable-like material suspended beneath it. No visible payload is immediately identifiable in the video.
Officials said the way the object ruptures and disperses upon impact is broadly consistent with balloon-like behavior under sudden kinetic force, though the object remains technically classified as unidentified in official documentation.
AARO further stated that the footage originated from an infrared sensor aboard a U.S. military platform operating within the United States Northern Command (NORTHCOM) area of responsibility and was uploaded to classified systems in February 2023. Officials noted that some records in the reviewed collection do not contain a fully substantiated chain of custody.
Fourth Aerial Intercept in February 2023
The Lake Huron incident marked the fourth aerial shootdown over North America in just over one week, during a period of heightened monitoring after military radar settings were adjusted to better identify slow-moving high-altitude objects.
The sequence began on February 4, 2023, when a Chinese high-altitude surveillance balloon was shot down off the coast of South Carolina by an F-22 Raptor from the 1st Fighter Wing using an AIM-9X missile.
On February 10, 2023, another high-altitude object described by officials as “cylindrical” and “silver-ish gray” was intercepted and destroyed over Alaska by an F-22 launched from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
A day later, on February 11, 2023, a third unidentified object was shot down over Canada’s Yukon territory by another U.S. Air Force F-22 operating in coordination with Canadian authorities.
Subsequent reporting and government assessments suggested the Alaska and Yukon objects were also likely balloon-related, although significantly smaller than the Chinese surveillance balloon intercepted earlier that month.
Yukon Evidence and Recovery Details
Visual evidence connected to the Yukon incident later surfaced through a Canadian freedom of information request after a grainy image obtained by CTV News showed a cylindrical object featuring a metallic upper section, a white lower body, and a wire measuring approximately 20 feet suspending a small package beneath it.
Additional reporting related to the Lake Huron incident indicated debris linked to the destroyed object was recovered by Canadian authorities from shoreline areas in March 2023 and later associated with commercial weather-monitoring equipment, reinforcing assessments that the object may not have been a sophisticated surveillance platform.
Military aviation analysts have continued to note that despite the advanced targeting pods and imaging systems carried by front-line fighter aircraft, publicly released imagery connected to unidentified aerial encounters often remains limited in resolution, complicating definitive identification and contributing to early uncertainty surrounding such incidents.
PURSUE Declassification Initiative
The Lake Huron footage was released under the PURSUE declassification initiative following a February 2026 directive issued by President Donald Trump ordering expanded transparency concerning government-held records on unidentified anomalous phenomena.
The program involves cooperation between the Department of War, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the FBI, NASA, and other federal agencies through a centralized disclosure portal.
According to government records, the latest disclosures stem in part from a March 6, 2026 request by eight members of the U.S. House of Representatives seeking access to 51 potentially UAP-related records reportedly held across the Department of War and the Intelligence Community, prompting AARO to identify and compile responsive materials.
The first batch of PURSUE files was released on May 8, 2026, while the second tranche, including the Lake Huron footage, became public on May 22, 2026. Officials said additional records are expected to be released on a rolling basis as the federal review of historical classified files continues.
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