The US Air Force and Royal Norwegian Air Force have carried out a joint precision maritime strike in the Norwegian Sea, where a B-2 Spirit bomber deployed QUICKSINK precision-guided munitions to sink a surface target.
Under the trial, US and Norwegian forces validated both the weapon system and the bomber’s role in long-range maritime strike missions.
The test also assessed the aircraft’s stealth, range, and payload capacity, while evaluating both large and small variants of the QUICKSINK system to enhance operational flexibility.
Norwegian support, including F-35 participation, infrastructure, and airspace access, allowed US forces to carry out the strike under realistic long-range conditions with full sensor-to-shooter integration.
The event further incorporated beyond-line-of-sight communications and multi-domain targeting, refining tactics and procedures for maritime strike 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,” said US Air Force Lt. Col. Stephen Bressett, 72nd Test and Evaluation Squadron commander.
Previous Tests
The US is testing the QUICKSINK system to explore air-launched alternatives to traditional torpedoes.
While heavyweight torpedoes such as the MK-48 remain the primary tool for sinking enemy ships, QUICKSINK aims to deliver similar anti-ship effects from the air, using modified 2,000-pound (907-kilogram) precision-guided bombs.
Unlike a submarine, which can destroy a ship with a single torpedo but exposes its position, QUICKSINK seeks to provide a faster, lower-cost method to strike multiple targets over a wider area.
Earlier this year, the US Air Force tested a 500-pound (227-kilogram) air-delivered QUICKSINK munition dropped by a B-2 Spirit at Eglin Air Force Base’s Gulf Test Range.
In 2024, the US Air Force and US Navy conducted a similar live-fire QUICKSINK anti-ship test over the Gulf of Mexico.
