A U.S. fighter jet shot down another unidentified, high-altitude object Saturday. This time it was shot down over northern Canada. It’s the third object in seven days that a U.S. F-22 has brought down, and the second in two days.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) confirmed earlier on Saturday that it was tracking another object in this sky. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted the news Saturday afternoon.
“I ordered the take down of an unidentified object that violated Canadian airspace. @NORADCommand shot down the object over the Yukon. Canadian and U.S. aircraft were scrambled,” Trudeau wrote in a tweet.
Trudeau added that he spoke with President Joe Biden on Saturday, and that “Canadian Forces will now recover and analyze the wreckage of the object.” Trudeau thanked NORAD for tracking the skies and “keeping the watch over North America.”
The F-22 Raptor takes part in a NATO Air Shieling exercise at the 32nd Air Tactical Base on October 12, 2022 in Lask, Poland. An F-22 shot down an unidentified, high-altitude object over Canada on Saturday, February 11, 2023. It was the third object shot down by an F-22 in seven days.
Photo by Omar Marques/Getty Images
The U.S. Department of Defense responded to a request from Newsweek on Saturday’s take down, to which the DoD stated it began tracking the unidentified object late Friday night over Alaska.
The DoD said that following the call between Biden and Trudeau, “President Biden authorized U.S. fighter aircraft assigned to NORAD to work with Canada to take down a high-altitude airborne object over northern Canada today.”
“Two F-22 aircraft from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska monitored the object over U.S. airspace with the assistance of Alaska Air National Guard refueling aircraft, tracking it closely and taking time to characterize the nature of the object,” the Department of Defense told Newsweek.
The U.S. and Canada monitored the object throughout the night and into this afternoon, with Canadian CF-18 and CP-140 aircraft joining the formation to investigate the object.
“A U.S. F-22 shot down the object in Canadian territory using an AIM 9X missile following close coordination between U.S. and Canadian authorities, to include a call today between Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Minister of Defence Anita Anand,” the DoD stated.
The FBI will join the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to “learn more about the object,” the DoD stated.
NORAD earlier in the afternoon said military aircraft from both Canada and Alaska were working jointly to support them.
“While we cannot discuss specifics related to these activities at this time, please note that NORAD conducts sustained, dispersed operations in the defence of North America through one or all three NORAD regions,” NORAD spokesperson Maj. Olivier Gallant said before the object was shot down.
General Glen VanHerck, Commander of U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, arrives for a closed-door briefing for Senators about the Chinese spy balloon at the U.S. Capitol February 9, 2023 in Washington, DC. A U.S. fighter jet shot down another object on Saturday, February 11, 2023, this time over northern Canada.
Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images
This comes after the U.S. military shot down two other objects over the last seven days. After tracking a Chinese spy balloon for four days over the continental states, the U.S. struck down the balloon as it crossed over the Atlantic Ocean last Saturday.
Yesterday an F-22 U.S. fighter jet shot down an unidentified object over the waters near Alaska. The object was flying around 40,000 feet and deemed a “reasonable threat” to aviation, according to White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby. The origin of that object is unknown at the time.
The object was shot down in the icy sea waters north of Alaska.
The Chinese spy balloon entered Alaskan air space before crossing over Canada and then the U.S. in a route from northwest Montana to the Atlantic coast over the Carolinas.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy issued a statement Friday after the object was shot down, saying it’s the “latest intrusion into our airspace raises serious questions about the White House’s decision to not shoot down a Chinese spy balloon last week when it was above the Aleutian Chain and prevent it from flying over important military sites in the Lower-48.”
“Unlike other states, Alaska is truly on the front lines,” Dunleavy said. “Because of our close proximity to our neighbors there is very little margin for error. Russian territory is only a few miles away. We are the one state closest to the Korean Peninsula and China. Alaska is truly on the front lines.”
Dunleavy added that his state “remains the most strategic place on earth for both geopolitics and national defense.”
“As such, decisions need to be made quickly to preserve the territorial integrity of Alaska and the United States. This incident is further evidence that the military capability of Alaska is robust. An important discussion should ensue about improving those capabilities, including icebreakers, Army, Air Force and Navy capabilities.
“If the last few days are any indication, this may be the new norm and we must be prepared. The Alaska National Guard is working closely with USNORTHCOM and other agencies to provide any support as requested.” » …
Read More
