B-2 bomber and F-35s stage an impressive flyover watched by hundreds of thousands online as Trump and Putin meet in Anchorage.
A U.S. Air Force B-2A Spirit stealth bomber, escorted by four F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, flew over Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, as U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met there on Aug. 15, 2025.
The surprise display of American airpower virtually opened the high-profile meeting on Ukraine.
Trump just flew a B-2 stealth bomber over Putin’s head…
Absolutely incredible. pic.twitter.com/2bsnssRv9f
— Geiger Capital (@Geiger_Capital) August 15, 2025
Putin arrived in Alaska aboard an Il-96-300PU, which is the primary Russian presidential aircraft for long-range travel, preceded by other support aircraft, including a Tu-214PU carrying members of his delegation.
The Il-96-300PU, on the other hand, is the standard Russian presidential aircraft for long-haul trips. It offers greater range, cabin space, and comfort, while also carrying secure communication systems. It is used for high-profile state visits and flights where the focus is on endurance and security rather than deployment flexibility.
An Ilyushin Il-96-300PU with the Russian Special Air Squadron and carrying President Vladimir Putin, is preparing to land at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. pic.twitter.com/Xc238UWcmC
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) August 15, 2025
The Tu-214PU is a special mission version of the Tu-214 configured as an airborne command post for the Russian leadership. It is fitted with secure, redundant communication systems that allow the president to maintain contact with government and military authorities at all times, including in national security crises. Tu-214PU aircraft are part of the “Rossiya” Special Flight Detachment and are often used for missions where flexibility, secure communications, and shorter field requirements are more important than range and capacity.
The Tu-214PU’s transpacific flight to Alaska became one of the most-followed flights in Flightradar24 history, with more than 400,000 people monitoring its progress across the Pacific. Many observers initially assumed the aircraft was carrying the Russian president, but it was in fact transporting part of his delegation while the Il-96 carried Putin himself.
400k live followers 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/3xQyagzK9N
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) August 15, 2025
Several U.S. military aircraft were flying as the Russian aircraft approached Anchorage.
The amount of Russian and US aircraft flying right now in Alaskan airspace that you can’t see on ADSB but you can hear on @liveatc is just wild.
RFF9930
BYTE61
LINK11
CACHE50
RSD111
RSD771
HOOK71
HOOK73
HOOK and BYTE are the Tankers, LINK? Is probably fighters and ROMEO… pic.twitter.com/2zO1zsvfBY
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) August 15, 2025
Absolute audio gold as I say. You have an American ATC controller (ANCHORAGE CENTER) calling out traffic to a Russian Tupolev Tu-214PU (RSD539) to look out for a Il-76 (RFF9926) opposite direction and 1000’ below.
I guarantee you that this if the first time and the last time… pic.twitter.com/8PwabLrJnR
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) August 15, 2025
Both aircraft landed at Elmendorf–Richardson ahead of the meeting, which took place at the strategically important base that hosts advanced fighter units, including the F-22 Raptors of the 3rd Wing, many of those were parked and clearly visible in the footage aired all around the world.
While the timing of the U.S. stealth aircraft flyover shows it was not accidental but intended to mark the historic meeting, the B-2 Spirits were not deployed to Alaska specifically for this task. Their presence at JBER had been planned for several months, as the bombers are reportedly taking part in Exercise Northern Edge 2025.
#26E8F9 as #DAGGR21 and #DAGGR11 Flight of 2 B2s into Elmendorf AFB PAED. Watching Lake Hood Seaplane Base live feed for maybe a chance to see 11-3013 and two B2s come into frame. Turn on the PANC atc tower feed and low and behold they were a DAGGR flight. Not the Daggr I was… pic.twitter.com/4eVV2zsmKB
— Norb (@norb420) August 14, 2025
Two additional U.S. Air Force B-2A “Spirit” Long-Range Strategic Stealth Bombers appear on their way to Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, where the meeting between President Donald J. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin is about to take place, likely… https://t.co/zsJWvEdu5W
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) August 15, 2025
