2 days ago
B-2 stealth bomber roars overhead as Trump, Putin arrive at Alaska base; internet debates whether it was a show of honor or a veiled warning
A dramatic flyover by a US
B-2 stealth bomber
, flanked by four
F-22 Raptor
fighters, greeted Presidents Donald
Trump
and Vladimir
Putin
as they stepped off their planes at
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson
in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, August 15.
As per ABC, the Pentagon confirmed two B-2s had been flown into the base ahead of the high-stakes summit, the same aircraft type used in June's Operation Midnight Hammer to strike Iran's nuclear sites.
The scene, complete with a red carpet and F-22 Raptors lined along the tarmac, is the B-2's status as a symbol of
US military might
, capable of flying around the world without refueling and delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions.
But the flyover sparked a split online. Some saw it as an extraordinary
diplomatic salute
. 'B-2 flyover is absolutely the highest honor. I cannot think of a visiting leader who got one of those in recent years,' posted a user, Old Lion, on X.
Others called it provocative. 'Stupid provocation, likely breaking security protocol for summit. USA can't be trusted is the message,' wrote jjunio007.
Live Events
'Was that a compliment or a warning?' wondered another, while one user summed up the other side of the argument: '0% power play, 100% honor.'
Alaska Summit News First posted on X that, 'With jets flying overhead, Trump turns to Putin and says, 'This is for you.'
About the B-2 bomber
The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber ranks among the most expensive aircraft ever made, with each unit costing over $2 billion when factoring in 1997 adjustments.
According to Britannica, the development program for 21 aircraft totaled around $44 billion, and maintaining one costs roughly $40 million annually.
By comparison, as per SlashGear, the F-22 Raptor, prized for its stealth and air-superiority capabilities, has a unit cost of about $143 million and annual operating costs exceeding $10 million per jet.
