B-2 stealth bomber conducts flyover as Trump, Putin arrive at Alaska base

President Donald Trump greeted Russian President Vladimir Putin at a U.S. air base in Alaska on Friday with a flyover that included the identical sort of bomber and fighter jets used to strike Iran’s nuclear websites final June.

The 2 leaders walked alongside a purple carpet rolled out at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson with F-22 fighter jets on both facet because the 4 F-35s and a B-2 Spirit bomber soared overhead.

Based on two officers, two B-2 bombers had been flown into the bottom forward of Friday’s summit; the F-35 jets arrived from close by Eielson Air Power Base in Alaska. The F-22 planes had been primarily based out of Elmendorf.

It was not instantly clear whether or not Trump personally ordered the bombers and the flyover to the Air Power base as a sort of present of drive forward of his discussions with Russia, which is also a nuclear energy.

The B-2 is taken into account a logo of U.S. energy, because the bombers can fly around the globe nonstop and may carry each standard and nuclear munitions. The stealth B-2 bombers are the identical sort utilized by the U.S. throughout June’s Operation Midnight Hammer, through which seven of the plane flew 36 hours straight from Whiteman Air Power Base in Missouri to Iran the place they dropped greater than a dozen bunker-buster bombs.

The Pentagon didn’t reply to a request for remark.

In current weeks, Trump has repeatedly praised the ability of the B-2 plane and the talent of its pilots.

Trump has insisted the websites had been “obliterated.” U.S. navy officers say a injury evaluation continues to be underneath method. On Aug. 6, he introduced his administration ordered “new and enhanced” B-2 plane.

“It is a tremendous machine,” he instructed reporters, holding up a small mannequin of the bomber.