Yukon Unidentified Object Shot Down by US F-22
A US Air Force F-22 Raptor shot down an unidentified cylindrical object (designated 'Object 23') over Yukon, Canada, during a wave of aerial shootdowns following the Chinese surveillance balloon incident. Canadian Brigadier General described the object as silvery and cylindrical with an antenna-like payload suspended on a 6-meter cable. Debris was never recovered despite extensive search efforts. In September 2024, Canada's Department of National Defence released the first photo of the object through freedom of information legislation, showing an image captured by the F-22 prior to engagement. The photo was withheld for 18 months.
Background
On February 11, 2023, a US Air Force F-22 Raptor shot down an unidentified object over the Yukon Territory in Canada—the second of three shoot-downs of unknown objects over North American airspace in a single week.
The Incident
NORAD detected the cylindrical object flying at approximately 40,000 feet. Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau authorized the engagement, allowing the F-22 to proceed with the shoot-down.
Search Operations
Despite extensive search operations by the Canadian military, no debris was recovered from the incident site.
Significance
This incident, along with the Lake Huron and Alaska shoot-downs, marked an unprecedented series of military engagements with unidentified objects over North America within a single week.