Putin lands in Alaska; greeted by costly B-2 bombers and F-22 jets before red carpet meeting with Trump. Photo/X.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was welcomed with an aerial display featuring US B-2 Stealth Bombers and F-22 Raptor jets over Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson as he touched down in Anchorage on Friday for a high-profile meeting with US President Donald Trump.
Videos of the flyover quickly circulated on social media, with many users expressing surprise at the cost of the aircraft.
The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber carries a per-unit cost exceeding $2 billion, reflecting its advanced radar-evading capabilities, with the total program cost reaching $44 billion for 21 units.
Also Read: Did Trump Really Land In Alaska Wearing Knee Pads Ahead Of Putin Meeting?
According to Britannica Encyclopedia Online, “each aircraft cost more than $2 billion, when including adjustments to the bombers in 1997. In addition, it is estimated that each bomber costs some $40 million annually to maintain.”
Meanwhile, the F-22 Raptor program, according to last year’s Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, totaled over $67 billion, making the approximate cost per plane around $350 million.
After the aerial display, Putin and Trump greeted each other on a red carpet laid out in front of their respective jets. The leaders shook hands before stepping into a limousine to proceed to their scheduled meeting.
During the ceremonial flyover, Trump walked alongside Putin, observing the jets and greeting the Russian leader with a handshake and a pat on the arm.
The summit took place inside the U.S. military facility, where both delegations were present. Trump was accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff, while Putin’s entourage included Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.
Ahead of the discussions, Trump commented on the Ukraine situation, emphasizing U.S. neutrality in direct negotiations, “I’ve got to let Ukraine make that decision. I’m not here to negotiate for Ukraine. I’m here to get them to the table.”
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
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