As reported by the US Department of Defense (DoD) on July 22, 2024, during the RIMPAC 2024 exercise, the U.S. Air Force’s B-2 Spirit bomber demonstrated the QUICKSINK low-cost maritime strike capability designed to sink surface vessels using modified JDAM precision-guided bombs. This event, which took place during the second SINKEX (Sinking Exercise), marked the first public report of the B-2 testing this modern anti-ship weapon system, showcasing the B-2’s relevance in the post-Cold War era.
The SINKEX (Sink at-sea live-fire training exercise) exercises allowed forces from Australia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, South Korea, and various U.S. military branches to practice gunnery, missile drills, torpedo accuracy, and other operations in a real-world environment. The ships undergo cleaning to remove hazardous materials like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and petroleum products, complying with environmental regulations.
In a collaborative effort with the U.S. Navy, the B-2 Spirit demonstrated the QUICKSINK capability during the second SINKEX. The QUICKSINK program, developed by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), is a Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) designed to create a low-cost, air-delivered capability for sinking surface vessels over vast ocean areas.
This system employs a modified GBU-31/B Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) with GPS-assisted inertial navigation system (INS) guidance, a new radar seeker, and an Imaging Infrared (IIR) camera, converting the JDAMs into precision-guided bombs capable of targeting both stationary and moving maritime threats. The program aims to achieve effects similar to torpedoes from the air, allowing for rapid and widespread strikes. Previous QUICKSINK demonstrations in 2021 and 2022 have shown that an F-15E Strike Eagle using such modified JDAMs could successfully sink a full-scale vessel.