Analysis-Trump's vision for a twin-engine F-55 fighter jet faces reality check
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump's vision of a new, twin-engine version of Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighter jet may need to be scaled back due to cost and engineering realities, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Speaking in Doha last month, Trump said the new "F-55" would feature "two engines and a super upgrade on the F-35." However, there is a caveat, with Trump saying, "if we get the right price."
Trump was not shown a twin-engine redesign of the F-35, the two sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. Developing such a jet would require an extensive overhaul, running into billions of dollars and taking years to complete, the sources said.
Lockheed Martin had briefed Trump on a possible upgrade to the F-35 during multiple meetings before the Doha event, the people said. The proposal included just one "advanced" engine, a redesigned nose and forward fuselage, and a new sensor suite.
Trump's reference to the "F-55" - the designator of the jet - caught officials and industry insiders off guard, particularly the mention of twin engines, a feature Trump has said he prefers for safety in case one engine fails.
Lockheed is exploring the development of two new fighter jet variations, according to industry experts and the two sources.
The proposed F-55 emerges against a backdrop of intensifying global competition in military aviation. China continues rapid development of its J-36 and J-50 stealth fighters, while Russia advances its Su-57 program despite economic constraints.
After Doha, Lockheed acknowledged Trump's comments with measured enthusiasm, stating, "We thank President Trump for his support of the F-35 and F-22 and will continue to work closely with the Administration to realize its vision for air dominance."
A Wall Street analyst tracking what might replace Lockheed Martin's F-35, said "it sounds like Trump has asked DoD to consider a twin-engine variant of the F-35 'if we get the right price,'" according to a note from TD Cowen.
TWO ENGINES?
Shifting the F-55 to two engines would initiate a costly and lengthy redesign of the F-35's airframe - and while it would make the jet fast, it would delay production by years, industry experts and one of the people said.
Lockheed CEO James Taiclet had told investors in an April call that the company was exploring a "fifth-generation-plus" fighter concept that would apply technologies developed for its unsuccessful F-47 bid to enhance the F-35 platform.
These new technologies would make it much harder to export the F-55, the people said, adding that they are still highly controlled.
"We're basically going to take the chassis and turn it into a Ferrari," Taiclet told analysts in April, claiming such an approach could deliver 80% of next-generation capability at half the cost.
Boeing beat out Lockheed to win the contract for Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD), now named the F-47 which will be America's first sixth-generation fighter and intended to replace Lockheed Martin's F-22 Raptor.
PRODUCTION
Because Lockheed lost the NGAD competition it is able to leverage its production plans for new jets.
Lockheed had production spaces already lined up, the people said, and the president was made aware the company was poised to move ahead. "Lockheed is much further along than he realized," one of the people said.
The timing of the F-55 announcement raises questions about how it fits into existing defense procurement plans and budgets. The Pentagon is already managing multiple high-cost aviation programs, including the ongoing F-35 program, the new F-47 development, and potentially the Navy's next generation carrier-based fighter jet - F/A-XX.
For Lockheed Martin, the F-55 concept represents a critical opportunity to maintain relevance in the high-end fighter market after significant setbacks in next-generation competitions.
Boeing's NGAD, which was just awarded and therefore is not in mass production yet, is expected to eclipse the F-22's capabilities, and so would F-55, the person said, making it a formidable fighter jet.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
a minute ago
- Newsweek
Melania Trump Letter to Putin Handed Over in Alaska
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. U.S. President Donald Trump gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a letter from the first lady on Friday during a crunch meeting in Alaska, Reuters reported. According to the news agency, citing two White House officials, the letter raised the plight of thousands of Ukrainian children who have reportedly been abducted by Russian forces since Putin ordered an all-out invasion in February 2022. Newsweek contacted the White House and Russian Foreign Ministry for comment on Saturday via email outside regular office hours. Why It Matters Ukrainian authorities allege that tens of thousands of Ukrainian children have been kidnapped by Russian authorities and taken either to Russia or to areas of Ukraine under Russian control. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin in response to the alleged abduction of Ukrainian children. Russian authorities said children were removed from war zones for their own safety and described the warrant as "outrageous and unacceptable." First lady Melania Trump, who is Slovenian, taking a personal interest in the fate of Ukrainian children could put additional pressure on Putin over Russia's conduct in the war. What To Know On Friday, Trump met with Putin at the Jointoa, to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine. The talks ended without Putin committing to a ceasefire, though Trump said they had been "very productive" with "many points we agreed on." Reuters reported that during the meeting, Trump gave Putin a letter written by the first lady that raised concern over the fate of thousands of Ukrainian children said to be removed from their families without consent by Russian authorities. The exact content of the letter has not been reported. According to Kyiv, about 20,000 Ukrainian children have been abducted since February 2022, which it said met the United Nations' definition of genocide. In June 2024, the U.S. said it was aware of "credible reports" of Ukrainian children being listed on Russian adoption websites, which it described as "despicable and appalling." Russian President Vladimir Putin at a news conference at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15 and first lady of the United States Melania Trump at the Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C.,... Russian President Vladimir Putin at a news conference at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15 and first lady of the United States Melania Trump at the Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C., on July 3. More ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/ANDREW HARNIK/GETTY According to the British newspaper The Sun, some abducted Ukrainian children were barred from speaking in their own language and forced to sing the Russian national anthem. Moscow said it evacuated children from conflict areas as a humanitarian measure. Trump has said his wife notes that Russia continues to bomb Ukrainian cities despite the U.S. president's telephone calls with Putin. According to USA Today, the president said in July: "I go home, I tell the first lady, 'You know, I spoke to Vladimir today. We had a wonderful conversation.' And she said, 'Oh really? Another city was just hit." In recent weeks, Russian state media has criticized the fist lady, with one prominent pro-regime TV anchor describing her as a "Ukrainian agent." Following his meeting with Putin, Trump told Fox News' Sean Hannity that he had "largely agreed" with Putin about potential land swaps between Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously said he would not hand over any Ukrainian territory to Moscow. What People Are Saying U.S. President Donald Trump, commenting on potential Russian sanctions after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, told Sean Hannity: "I think I don't have to think about that now. … I may have to think about it in two weeks or three weeks or something, but we don't have to think about that right now." Trump also said Putin, widely regarded as a dictator, gave him advice on how to run "honest elections." Standing alongside Trump in Alaska, Putin said: "Our negotiations have been held in a constructive atmosphere of mutual respect." Trump said: "I've always had a fantastic relationship with President Putin, with Vladimir. … We were interfered with by the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax. It made it a little bit tougher to deal with, but he understood it." What Happens Next In remains to be seen whether the first lady's letter will prompt any action from Moscow regarding Ukrainian children, and if not, whether the U.S. government will take any action.
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Goodwin Insiders Added UK£433.5k Of Stock To Their Holdings
When a single insider purchases stock, it is typically not a major deal. However, when multiple insiders purchase stock, like in Goodwin PLC's (LON:GDWN) instance, it's good news for shareholders. Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 15 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit. Goodwin Insider Transactions Over The Last Year The insider John Goodwin made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for UK£283k worth of shares at a price of UK£70.30 each. Although we like to see insider buying, we note that this large purchase was at significantly below the recent price of UK£95.20. Because the shares were purchased at a lower price, this particular buy doesn't tell us much about how insiders feel about the current share price. In the last twelve months insiders purchased 6.47k shares for UK£434k. On the other hand they divested 970.00 shares, for UK£58k. Overall, Goodwin insiders were net buyers during the last year. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date! See our latest analysis for Goodwin There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. If investing in lesser known companies is your style, you could take a look at this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Insider Ownership Of Goodwin Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Goodwin insiders own 11% of the company, currently worth about UK£77m based on the recent share price. I like to see this level of insider ownership, because it increases the chances that management are thinking about the best interests of shareholders. So What Do The Goodwin Insider Transactions Indicate? The fact that there have been no Goodwin insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. Overall we don't see anything to make us think Goodwin insiders are doubting the company, and they do own shares. I like to dive deeper into how a company has performed in the past. You can access this interactive graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow for free. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump-Putin meeting recap: No deal reached at Russia-Ukraine war summit in Alaska; leaders praise 'extremely productive' talks
Trump and Putin met Friday for the summit at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin both said that significant progress was made toward an agreement for a potential ceasefire in the war in Ukraine, but that a final deal had not yet been reached during their high-stakes summit in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday. Trump said the talks were 'extremely productive' but added that 'there's no deal until there's a deal' during a joint press conference following nearly three hours of closed-door conversations between the two leaders. Details on what was agreed to and what issues have yet to be resolved were not shared. Trump and Putin met at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, where they shook hands and posed for photographs on the tarmac before beginning their sit-down away from the press. It was the first face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin since 2019, and Putin's first with a U.S. president since his forces invaded Ukraine in 2022. The Russian leader had spoken on the phone with Trump since his reelection, but they had not yet met in person during the president's second term. Trump has been trying for months to secure a deal to end the war, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was not invited to Friday's summit, and expectations that a ceasefire agreement can be reached are low. 'This is really a feel-out meeting,' Trump told reporters earlier this week. 'Probably in the first two minutes I'll know exactly whether or not a deal can be made.' The president also promised 'very severe consequences' if Putin doesn't agree to end the three-and-a-half-year conflict, which has caused a staggering number of casualties on both sides. There were fresh attacks in the war overnight. Russia launched dozens of drone strikes across Ukraine, killing seven civilians and injuring 17 others, Ukrainian military officials said. Yahoo News' live coverage has ended. Read more information in the blog below. Russian President Vladimir Putin was seen heading into his plane less than an hour after his joint press conference with President Trump. As he entered the door, he turned around to give a wave and subtle bow. Putin and his delegation had been scheduled to meet with Trump and other U.S. officials for a luncheon before leaving Alaska, but that gathering was canceled. Not only was Russian President Vladimir Putin full of praise for President Trump after their meeting Friday in Alaska, but he also went out of his way to echo Trump in blaming former President Joe Biden for the war in Ukraine. Describing Trump's personal involvement in negotiations as "precious," Putin predicted that it would ultimately help solve "the Ukrainian issue" and "help us bring back businesslike and pragmatic relations between Russia and the U.S." Then he strategically pivoted to Trump's predecessor — and referenced a claim the president has often made about the latest phase of the war in Ukraine, which began when Putin invaded in 2022. "In 2022, during the last contact with the previous administration, I tried to convince my previous American colleague that the situation should not be brought to the point of no return when it would come to hostilities," Putin said through a translator. "That [would be] a big mistake." So "today, when President Trump is saying that if he was the president back then there will be no war, I'm quite sure that it would indeed be so," Putin added. "I can confirm that." In 2022, Jeffrey Treistman, an assistant professor of national security at the University of New Haven, argued otherwise in The Hill, claiming that "Trump has a clear track record of undermining Ukraine's sovereignty and security." Trump "would not have stopped Russia's recent invasion of Ukraine" because his "foreign policies actually served to embolden Putin and weaken the trans-Atlantic alliance," Treistman contended. After meeting for nearly three hours with Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Trump emerged from behind closed doors Friday at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, saying negotiations had been "extremely productive" — while also acknowledging that no comprehensive ceasefire agreement had been reached. "We haven't quite got there, but we've got some headway," Trump said. "There's no deal until there's a deal." The president went on to note that "many points were agreed to," while "just a few ... were left" unresolved — "one" of which, he added, is "more significant" than the others. Earlier in the day, Trump said he wanted to "see a ceasefire, rapidly." "I don't know if it's going to be today, but I'm not going to be happy if it's not today," he warned. During his joint press conference Friday with Putin, however, Trump signaled that negotiations would continue in the near future, saying that he would "call" NATO and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky because it was "ultimately up to them to agree with" the parameters of what his team and Putin's team had discussed. "We didn't get there, but we have a very good chance of getting there," Trump said. Then he addressed Putin directly, as "Vladimir." "We'll speak to you very soon — and probably see you again very soon." "Next time in Moscow," Putin interjected, drawing a chuckle from Trump. "I'll get heat for that," Trump replied. "I can see that possibly happening." As the world waits for President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to emerge from behind closed doors and comment on today's nearly three-hour meeting, Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska says the benchmark for Trump should be securing a clear-cut ceasefire commitment from Putin. "I think that the best that we could hope for is a commitment coming out of Putin to a ceasefire with enough contours to it that it is believable — that it will be more than just a brief moment to check a box here," Murkowski told CNN. Earlier, David Sanger of the New York Times said that "if there isn't a cease fire with a date certain, and a specific length, it's going to be very hard for the president to spin that he got much progress here." Trump supporters were seen congregating outside Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to show their support for the president during the summit. Negotiations with the American delegation in the "narrow format" have concluded, the Kremlin said in a short statement. This presumably refers to the closed-door three-on-three meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin that had been going on for nearly three hours. Aides have just checked the microphones at the podiums where Trump and Putin are expected to address reporters for a joint press conference. The Kremlin said this press conference will start soon. Trump and Putin were originally supposed to speak to the media after a working bilateral lunch meeting between the larger U.S. and Russian delegations. It is unclear whether that larger meeting will take place. Friday's meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has been a red carpet affair — a polished production orchestrated at least in part by Trump himself, who spent years co-producing and starring in his own reality television show (NBC's The Apprentice). Alaska's Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy posted a video to social media Friday in which he described a conversation he had with the president on Air Force One before Trump's meeting with Putin. In addition to mentioning that Trump said he 'loves Alaska,' Dunleavy addressed rumors suggesting that granting Russia access to the state's bountiful natural resources could be a bargaining chip to help convince Putin to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine. 'We talked to the president about these rumors that Alaska's minerals are going to be sold off to the Russians or that Alaska's gas is going to be transported by the Russians. … That's not true,' Dunleavy said in the video. 'Some would say that's fake news.' The British newspaper the Telegraph reported earlier this week, citing unnamed sources, that Trump would consider 'opening up Alaska's natural resources to Moscow.' A high-ranking Russian lawmaker added more fuel to the claim by commenting that it 'would be interesting' for companies from his country to be granted the right 'to work on the lands of Alaska.' Trump didn't rule anything out when he was asked directly whether Alaska's resources might be part of a potential deal with Russia on Thursday, saying only, 'We're going to see what happens.' The scheduled working lunch with more parties has not started yet, Dan Scavino, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff, said on X. This means the meeting between Trump, Putin and their chosen aides has lasted almost two hours so far. The White House did not issue a strict schedule for today's summit, but some have speculated the timing could be a sign that Trump has not felt obligated to "walk," as he told Fox News host Bret Baier he would do if he was not happy with how the conversation was going. A lot of phone calls between Trump and Putin this year have lasted up to 90 minutes, CNN reported. There are also two translators who are in the room facilitating the conversation. During his 2024 reelection campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly said he would end the war between Russia and Ukraine within 24 hours of returning to the Oval Office — or sooner. Actually, repeatedly is an understatement. According to CNN, Trump predicted he would resolve the conflict by Day One of his second term at least 53 times. 'Before I even arrive at the Oval Office, I will have the disastrous war between Russia and Ukraine settled,' Trump said in Maryland on March 4, 2023, for example. 'I will get the problem solved and I will get it solved in rapid order and it will take me no longer than one day. I know exactly what to say to each of them.' Given that today is Day 208 of Trump's second term and the war still isn't over, critics have accused Trump of breaking his promise. In response, the president has claimed that he 'said that figuratively… as an exaggeration… to make a point.' The important part, he added, was that he said the war 'will be ended.' Today's 'high stakes' meeting with Putin in Alaska proves how much striking a peace deal matters to Trump — in part because he spent much of 2023 and 2024 vowing to do it. The path to peace in Ukraine is the most pressing issue for Trump and Putin's summit, but it's not the only critical subject that the two leaders are expected to discuss. The last remaining arms control agreement between the world's two nuclear superpowers is set to expire at the beginning of next year and both leaders have expressed optimism that a new pact can be reached during their meeting in Alaska. The U.S. and Russia have by far the largest nuclear arsenals in the world, together controlling 90% of the world's nuclear weapons. The two nations have been working under some form of nuclear arms control deal since 1972. The current agreement, known as the New START treaty, limits the number of warheads each country can keep on alert at any given time. That deal expires in February and cannot be extended. If a new agreement isn't reached before then, the U.S. and Russia will be operating without a mutual nuclear agreement for the first time in more than half a century. On Thursday, Putin suggested that the summit could create 'the long-term conditions of peace between our countries … and in the world as a whole, if we reach agreements in the field of strategic offensive arms control,' while speaking with top Russian officials in Moscow. Trump expressed similar sentiments last month, telling reporters, 'That's not an agreement you want expiring. We're starting to work on that.' Neither leader has offered details of what might be included in a new nuclear agreement or how a future deal might differ from the one currently in place. As Trump and Putin continue their meeting, here's a recap of what's already happened so far today: The summit turned into a three-on-three meeting. It was initially planned for Trump and Putin to meet alone, but they both now have two advisers sitting with them. Trump has U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while Putin has Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was not invited to the meeting, said in a social media post that Ukraine is "counting on America," although Trump told reporters this morning, "I'm not here to negotiate for Ukraine." Trump has suggested that, if his conversation with Putin is successful, he could set up another meeting with Putin and Zelensky. Trump said he "would walk" if the conversation doesn't go well. He told Fox News host Bret Baier on Air Force One that he will "head back home real fast" if everything doesn't "work out very well." President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have been meeting for an hour behind closed doors at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are sitting alongside Trump. Putin is flanked by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov. The only other people in the room are translators. For the duration of this sit-down, there will be no reports about what Trump and Putin are saying to each other. Once they are done, broader "talks within the delegations, possibly in the form of a working lunch" are likely to follow, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitr Peskov. "After that, the heads of state will withdraw for some time" to consult with their advisors "and then come together for a joint press conference." All told, the process could last for six or seven hours, according to Peskov, meaning it might wrap up around 9 or 10 p.m. ET. Or not. Trump has previously said that while he thinks the summit is "going to work out very well ... if it doesn't, I'm going to head back home real fast.' Alternately, the president also said Thursday that if he and Putin make real progress, he might remain in Alaska and ask President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine to fly in, which he said 'would be by far the easiest way' to mediate. Either way, Trump plans to sit for an interview with Sean Hannity of Fox News Friday night. He is scheduled to depart Alaska for Washington, D.C., before midnight local time. While Trump meets with Putin, his team sent out a fundraising email, according to screenshots an Associated Press reporter shared on X. "I'm meeting with Putin in Alaska! It's a little chilly," the email says. "THIS MEETING IS VERY HIGH STAKES for the world." The email encouraged people to donate, adding, "No one in the world knows how to make deals like me!" President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin did not answer questions from reporters while posing earlier today for a red carpet photo op at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. But that didn't stop the press from asking — or rather, shouting — their questions anyway. And in one instance, it didn't stop Putin from gesturing in response. 'President Putin, will you agree to a ceasefire?' 'Mr. President, what's your message to Vladimir Putin?' 'Mr. Putin, did you underestimate Ukraine?' None of these queries provoked any real reaction from the two leaders, other than a few words to each other and a handshake for the cameras. But then someone asked Putin if he would 'stop killing civilians.' At that, Putin grimaced, pointed to his ear — as if to suggest that he couldn't hear — and shrugged. Trump and Putin then exchanged a few more words, smiled and stepped into the presidential limo. 'President Putin, how can the U.S. trust your word?' a reporter shouted as Trump ushered Putin away. The U.S. president raised his hand, as if to wave goodbye or signal 'that's enough' — and an aide said, 'Thank you, press.' Putin was again asked about "killing civilians" during a second photo op with additional U.S. and Russian officials, and he again reacted — this time by narrowing his eyes skeptically, cupping his hands around his mouth and addressing the reporter directly (though inaudibly to the microphones). The two leaders arrived at the building at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, where they plan to meet and hold their news conference later tonight. The fact that Trump and Putin rode together — without top aides and officials — in the U.S. presidential limo from the tarmac to the site of today's summit is significant. Why? Because it's so unusual. When Trump wanted North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un — another U.S. adversary — to join him in his car during their meeting in Singapore in 2018, advisers talked him out of it. Today's meeting with Putin was expanded from a one-on-one to a three-on-three at the last minute. But Trump and Putin still made sure to get some alone time beforehand — even if they had to carve it out during a brief car ride. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin's foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov will be joining Putin in his conversation with Trump, RIA Novosti, a Russian state news agency, said, according to the Associated Press. RIA Novosti got the names from Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Putin, Lavrov and Ushakov will meet with Trump, Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff soon. President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin emerged from their respective planes and proceeded down an L-shaped red carpet at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, before meeting for a handshake. At 11:07 a.m. local time, Trump deplaned first from Air Force One. Putin followed seconds later. Trump waited for Putin to approach him for the handshake; he briefly applauded as Putin got closer. The two exchanged words for several seconds before walking together toward reporters and posing for a side-by-side photo op while American fighter jets flew overhead. The two leaders then entered the U.S. presidential limo (nicknamed "The Beast") to ride together to today's summit. Russian President Vladimir Putin has landed in Anchorage, Alaska. Air Force One touched down about 30 minutes ago at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, the military base in Anchorage where President Trump will meet with Putin this afternoon. Trump has been greeting Alaska lawmakers on board as he awaits Putin's arrival.
