From advanced electronic warfare in the skies to search and rescue robots on the ground, the modern theater of war is increasingly complex and ever-evolving. However, when it comes to maritime warfare, the US military is putting a new twist on a simple yet effective, old-school tactic - dropping bombs from above. What is QUICKSINK? The Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), in partnership with the US Navy, has been developing a Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) program called QUICKSINK.
This program is designed to integrate a multi-mode radar/infrared seeker with the US military's existing Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM). JDAMs incorporate a tail kit modification that provides guidance via inertial navigational and GPS systems, turning free-falling warheads such as the 2,000 lb BLU-109/MK 84, the 1,000 lb BLU-110/MK 83, or the 500 lb BLU-111/MK 82, into "smart bombs." When armed with the tail kit mod, as pictured below, the munitions are given a Guided Bomb Unit nomenclature GBU-31/32/38.
According to the USAF : Once released from the aircraft, the JDAM autonomously navigates to the designated target coordinates. Target coordinates can be loaded into the aircraft before takeoff, manually altered by the aircrew before weapon release, or automatically entered through target designation with onboard aircraft sensors. In its most accurate mode, the JDAM system will provide a weapon circular error probable of 5 meters or less during free flight when GPS data is available.
If GPS data is denied, the JDAM will achieve a 30-meter CEP or less for free flight times up to 100 seconds with a GPS quality handoff from the aircraft. QUICKSINK builds upon the JDAM platform by adding a nose-mounted radar/infrared seeker, designed by BAE systems, which works in concert with the JDAM to provide precision targeting of maritime surface vessels. The QUICKSINK munition's velocity is provided by aircraft speed and gravity upon launch, while the JDAM's fins direct it toward the intended target.
The QUICKSINK seeker increases precision, allowing for direct hits at critical areas on the targeted vessel, whether stationary or moving. “Our new multi-mode modular seeker enables precision identification and engagement of surface targets at great distances over a large area. Our seeker technology will greatly increase the warfighter’s capabilities, enabling combatant commanders with a new way to defend against maritime threats in a cost-effective manner.
”- Peter Dusaitis, BAE chief scientist in a statement from BAE Systems A key aspect of the QUICKSINK program is its adherence to a Weapon Open Systems Architecture (WOSA). WOSA ensures that associated costs are kept to a minimum and that the seeker will be adaptable to a broad spectrum of current and future US military weapons systems and able to integrate components from different manufacturers. Some of these aircraft were produced in thousands in a short period.
Why do we need QUICKSINK? Nobody would question the efficacy of torpedoes such as the MK-48, an acoustic-homing heavyweight torpedo commonly used by US Navy submarines. A submarine-launched MK-48 can be devastating to enemy vessels. However, they come at a significant cost – about $5M per torpedo.
QUICKSINK aims to achieve torpedo-like effectiveness from the sky for around $40,000 per munition. Cost-effective, indeed. “Heavy-weight torpedoes are effective [at sinking large ships] but are expensive and employed by a small portion of naval assets.
With QUICKSINK, we have demonstrated a low-cost and more agile solution that has the potential to be employed by the majority of Air Force combat aircraft, providing combatant commanders and warfighters with more options.” Maj. Andrew Swanson, 85th TES division chief of Advanced Programs, AFRL Public Affairs Furthermore, USAF and US Navy aircraft armed with QUICKSINK munitions could deliver these vessel-destroying munitions with much greater efficiency, greater volume, and across a much larger area than a comparatively slow submarine, all while keeping the location of friendly subs hidden from the enemy.
"Navy submarine has the ability to launch and destroy a ship with a single torpedo at any time, but the QUICKSINK aims to develop a low-cost method of achieving torpedo-like kills from the air at a much higher rate and over a much larger area. "- AFRL program manager Kirk Herzog in 2022. Putting QUICKSINK to the test QUICKSINK was first tested in April 2022 at the 120,00 square mile Gulf Test and Training Range operated by Eglin AFB, when an F-15 Strike Eagle obliterated a surface vessel off the Gulf of Mexico using a QUICKSINK-modified GBU-31 JDA—a promising milestone for the QUICKSINK program.
See for yourself in the video below. More recently, in July 2024, aircraft and ships from the US, Australia, the Netherlands, Malaysia, and the Republic of Korea participated in Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), which consists of live-fire sinking exercises (SINKEXs). The event took place off the northern coast of the island of Kauai.
As part of RIMPAC, a USAF B-2 Spirit stealth bomber destroyed the decommissioned USS Tarawa with a QUICKSINK munition, demonstrating the munition's effectiveness once again. Not to be outdone, a US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet also got in on the fun, blasting the USS Tarawa with a Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). “ Sinking exercises give us a chance to sharpen our skills, learn from one another, and get real-world experience.
..Using advanced weapons and seeing the professionalism of our teams during these drills shows our commitment to keeping the Indo-Pacific region safe and open.
” - in a statement from US Navy Vice Adm. John Wade, RIMPAC 2024 Combined Task Force Commander What prompted the QUICKSINK program? For the United States, dominating the oceans is not merely a tactical advantage but essential for national security and global stability. According to a 2023 US Dept.
of Defense report , China boasts the largest navy fleet in the world. The threat of a potential conflict with China involving battles throughout the vast Pacific Ocean is of increasing concern and a driving force behind the QUICKSINK program. With China rapidly expanding its naval capabilities and asserting its influence in the South China Sea, the US military must remain vigilant and prepared for any eventuality.
China's advanced anti-ship ballistic missiles, the DF-26B and DF-21D, known as the "Carrier killer," are capable of threatening the US Navy's nuclear-powered supercarriers from distances up to 4000 km. The QUICKSINK program represents a proactive approach, ensuring the US is ready to counter any aggressive maneuvers in this strategically vital region. "The B-2's demonstrated anti-maritime capability will constrain if not deter plan operations east of Taiwan or off the Philippines.
You cannot ignore a weapon that can sink a 25,000-plus-ton ship with one hit."- Retired U.S.
Navy Capt. Carl O. Schuster, former director of the U.
S. Pacific Command Joint Intelligence Center, in an interview with CNN. "QUICKSINK is an answer to an urgent need to neutralize maritime threats to freedom around the world.
"— Air Force Research Laboratory Public Affairs Can QUICKSINK be a game-changer? Maybe, though, QUICKSINK is not without drawbacks and concerns. While QUICKSINK would be devastating to enemy vessels with limited air defenses, attempting to deploy QUICKSINK munitions against vessels with advanced air defenses would put some US aircraft at tremendous risk of anti-aircraft fire. This likely explains why the US chose the high-flying and stealthy B-2 for this latest QUICKSINK test.
While QUICKSINK tests have been promising, the effectiveness of air-launched weapons compared to traditional torpedoes in combat scenarios remains to be fully validated. As with any new technology, unforeseen technical challenges may arise during development and integration. Additionally, successfully implementing air-delivered capabilities relies on maintaining air superiority, which may not always be guaranteed in contested environments.
QUICKSINK PROS CONS Cost-Effective Development Challenges Rapid Deployment Operational Limitations Versatility Dependence on Air Superiority Enhanced Lethality Strategic Advantage From the silent depths where submarines lurk to the skies above patrolled by highly advanced aircraft, the struggle for supremacy on the high seas remains as critical today as it has been throughout history. While the AFRL and the US military hope QUICKSINK can change the landscape of maritime warfare, many questions remain to be answered. China may be able to produce around 240 fighter jets annually made up of J-10s, J-16, and J-20s.
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