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.
“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.
