In a significant display of military collaboration, the US Air Force and the Royal Norwegian Air Force have successfully executed a joint precision maritime strike in the Norwegian Sea. Central to this operation was the B-2 Spirit bomber, which deployed the QUICKSINK precision-guided munitions to sink a designated surface target. This trial was pivotal in validating both the weapon system capabilities and the bomber’s effectiveness in long-range maritime strike missions.
The testing not only evaluated the B-2’s stealth, range, and payload capacity but also assessed various configurations of the QUICKSINK system, both large and small variants. This broader evaluation aims to enhance operational flexibility in maritime operations. Norwegian support, which included participation from F-35 aircraft, as well as vital infrastructure and airspace access, facilitated the US forces in conducting the strike under conditions that closely mirrored realistic long-range scenarios, ensuring comprehensive sensor-to-shooter integration throughout the operation.
Additionally, the event incorporated beyond-line-of-sight communications and multi-domain targeting, thereby refining tactics and procedures for maritime strikes in high-threat environments. “We are building readiness on both sides of the Atlantic and creating options that make maritime strike more distributed, survivable and integrated,” noted US Air Force Lt. Col. Stephen Bressett, commander of the 72nd Test and Evaluation Squadron.
The QUICKSINK system is currently being explored by the US as a viable air-launched alternative to traditional torpedoes. While heavyweight torpedoes like the MK-48 remain key assets for compromising enemy vessels, QUICKSINK aims to achieve similar anti-ship outcomes from the air using modified 2,000-pound precision-guided bombs. This system is designed to provide a faster, lower-cost solution for targeting multiple vessels over expansive areas, without the positional risks associated with submarine-launched strikes.
Earlier this year, the US Air Force piloted a 500-pound air-delivered QUICKSINK munition dropped from a B-2 Spirit during tests at Eglin Air Force Base’s Gulf Test Range. Additionally, in 2024, both the US Air Force and US Navy are set to conduct another live-fire QUICKSINK anti-ship test over the Gulf of Mexico, further advancing the capabilities of this innovative strike system.
