DOW-UAP-PR068: UAP Captured by Fifth-Generation Aircraft — NORTHCOM, January 20, 2023
Date
January 20, 2023
Document Type
Video
Authentication
Official PublicationRedaction Status
▐ Partially RedactedIssuing Authority
Department of War / U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM)
Summary
Full-motion sensor video released by the Department of War documenting a UAP captured by a fifth-generation aircraft in the U.S. Northern Command area of responsibility on January 20, 2023. The 1:03-duration video carries IIR designation '1 666 S0151 23.' The fifth-generation aircraft descriptor refers to either an F-22 Raptor or F-35 Lightning II — both equipped with advanced Distributed Aperture Systems and electro-optical/infrared sensors far superior to legacy platforms. The January 20, 2023 date places this in the same operational period as the Chinese balloon shootdown sequence (Feb 2-4, 2023) and the Lake Huron shootdown (PR071, Feb 12, 2023).
Significance
The first known public release of UAP footage captured by a fifth-generation fighter aircraft. Fifth-gen platforms carry significantly more capable sensor suites than legacy aircraft; UAP footage from an F-22 or F-35 carries higher sensor-fidelity provenance than footage from legacy FLIR-equipped aircraft. The January 2023 date situates this within the heightened NORTHCOM air sovereignty activity that preceded the Chinese balloon intercept.