Latest: Release 07, Fri 23 Oct 2026Next release: estimated Fri 20 Nov 2026 (window 13 Nov to 4 Dec)

THE UAP READING ROOM

Official U.S. government UAP file releases, archived, read and kept.

RELEASE 02 / DOW-UAP-PR071

READ FIRSTINFRARED SENSOR

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

File ID
DOW-UAP-PR071
Agency
Department of War
Release
Release 02, 22 May 2026
Event date
2023 (read as 2023; precision: year)
Location
NORTHCOM
Type
VIDEO
Redactions
Yes, parts of the official copy are blacked out
Provenance
INFRARED SENSOR

The official record

Official copy at DVIDS

Official summary, as published

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.

Named in this file

1 name

People, programs and institutions from The Legacy Program research board whose names appear in this file, found by exact spelling against a hand-checked list. A match says only that the file names them, not what part they play. People and programs lists every file that names each one. Only the title and official summary of a media file can be searched.

Our reading

READ FIRST

46 seconds of infrared footage titled by its uploader as an Air National Guard F-16C shooting down a UAP over Lake Huron on 12 February 2023. AARO's description has the subject fragmenting 'in a radial displacement pattern' at the 20-second mark after what appears to be a kinetic interaction. The Pentagon announced the engagement at the time (F-16, AIM-9X, about 20,000 feet) and described the object only as a flight-safety and possible surveillance threat; this is the engagement itself on an infrared sensor.

Three separate measures, each with its reason. They are never added into a score.

E Evidence 2 of 3

Infrared weapons-engagement footage: the sensor centres the object, then records it fragmenting at the 20-second mark.

N Novelty 2 of 3

The shootdown was announced in February 2023, but the contemporary coverage opened for this reading mentioned no video.

L Linkage 3 of 3

Centrally about the 12 February 2023 Lake Huron engagement, part of the February 2023 shootdowns node.

Flags

Reading published 31 Oct 2026.

Our saved copy

Download our saved copy (video_2605_DOD_111720731_DOD_111720731.mp4)

One version seen. The checksum lets you confirm that a copy you hold is the one we saved.

  1. First seen

    4.7 MB (4,876,916 bytes)

    SHA-256 9a445ec9adc1717811e3a77f5a62c28d2dca00f2c07d04e3b6edd33ff00137f1