The stealth bomber demonstrated a long-range precision maritime strike within the Norwegian Sea utilizing the QUICKSINK weapon.
A U.S. Air Power B-2 Spirit stealth bomber took half within the third demonstration of the QUICKSINK functionality, releasing the JDAMs (Joint Direct Assault Munition) modified for maritime strike on a mock goal within the Norwegian Sea. The mission, which was performed on Sep. 3, 2025, noticed the bomber accompanied by 4 Royal Norwegian Air Power (RNoAF) F-35As and a P-8A Poseidon.
The mission was introduced by each providers every week later, on Sep. 9, 2025. Whereas within the Excessive North, the plane have been refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker from the one hundredth Aerial Refueling Wing (ARW) based mostly at RAF Mildenhall.
Nevertheless, the flight of the B-2 close to Norway was already famous. In reality, on Sep. 3, a B-2 with the callsign “CULT71” was heard speaking with air visitors management on its solution to Norway.
B-2 #CULT71 eastbound over the Atlantic out of Whiteman AFB, checking in with Shanwick Radio HF 10021. pic.twitter.com/TVJ2mUGCjo
— EISNspotter 🇮🇪 (@EISNspotter) September 3, 2025
The pictures present that preparations went ahead for days, with crews from the 509th Munitions Squadron, 393rd and 509th Bomber Era Squadron and the 72nd Take a look at and Analysis Squadron assembling and loading the weapons on Aug. 26 and Aug. 28 at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. At the very least two GBU-31s and twelve GBU-38s have been seen within the pictures on weapon trailers, able to be loaded on the B-2.
🇺🇸 2,000-pound class GBU-31 JDAMs (QUICKSINK variant) are ready, inspected and loaded onto a B-2A Spirit stealth bomber at Whiteman Air Power Base, Missouri, Aug. 28, 2025.
(📸/U.S. Air Power pictures by Employees Sgt. Joshua Hastings) pic.twitter.com/rS2s2zaFNN
— Man Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) September 9, 2025
The weapons construct operations have been a “part of the AFRL QUICKSINK Joint Functionality Know-how Demonstration,” the captions stated. It’s unclear what number of weapons have been employed within the check.
The primary QUICKSINK demonstration from a B-2 occurred within the 2024 version of the RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific) train with a 2,000 pound GBU-31/B JDAM. Then, in April 2025, the AFRL (Air Power Analysis Laboratory) performed a check of a “new, extra versatile variant of the QUICKSINK maritime weapon,” based mostly on a 500 pound GBU-38 JDAM, employed by a B-2 at Eglin AFB’s Gulf Take a look at Vary.
QUICKSINK and B-2
The AFRL confirmed in 2022 that it developed a devoted seeker for the QUICKSINK position. Curiously, the 2 GBU-31 JDAMs are coloured otherwise – one with a pink physique, and the opposite with yellow and black bands within the entrance and the aft part.
The rationale for the completely different colour is unknown, nevertheless the pink one was proven in pictures by the RNoAF shortly after being launched by the B-2. Contemplating that the pictures seem to indicate two completely different explosions, it’s potential the 2 GBU-31s have been the one ones to be dropped heading in the right direction.
The captions stated the JDAMs have been used for the QUICKSINK Joint Functionality Know-how Demonstration, described as “a brand new low-cost, air-delivered functionality for defeating maritime threats.” The targets have been situated within the waters of the Norwegian Sea, off Andøya in Nordland.
A B-2 can carry a whopping 80 500 pound-class GBU-38s or 16 2,000 pound-class GBU-31s in a single sortie. Combined hundreds are additionally potential, contemplating each GBU-31s and GBU-38 have been proven being ready.
The B-2 used for the check is assigned to the 72nd TES, underneath the 53rd Wing at Eglin AFB, Florida. The 53rd Wing’s press launch stated the check “additionally superior the event of each massive and small variants of the precision strike system underneath analysis, increasing operational choices for commanders in maritime-focused operations.”
The assertion seems to discuss with the modifications to each the GBU-31’s and GBU-38’s JDAM equipment and seeker for the QUICKSINK mission. Nevertheless, the one photograph out there reveals the GBU-31 being launched, whereas no pictures of the GBU-38 being employed can be found.
The train
The 53rd Wing stated it built-in the U.S. B-2 Spirit right into a “long-range strike state of affairs demonstrating seamless cooperation and interoperability to defeat a floor vessel in a practical setting.” The Luftforsvaret confirmed the participation of its 4 F-35As and the only P-8A within the “very profitable” check.
“To perform the mission, capacities from, amongst others, the Norwegian Navy and Andøya House have been additionally used,” added the assertion.
The 53rd Wing described the drill as a check of next-generation precision maritime capabilities. The unit additionally stated that, in partnership with Royal Norwegian Air Power F-35s and personnel, the check demonstrated “seamless cooperation and interoperability to defeat a floor vessel in a practical setting.”
“This check is a transparent instance of how we work with trusted allies to carry new capabilities into play sooner and smarter,” 53rd Wing commander Col. Scott Gunn stated.
The participation of the Norwegians to the check, beside permitting the U.S. “important infrastructure and airspace,” additionally helped refining “superior ways, strategies, and procedures for long-range sensor-to-shooter operations,” with widespread airframes just like the F-35A and the P-8A, based on the USAF.
The Lightning II would offer aerial digital surveillance and an armed escort within the strike bundle, whereas the P-8A scans, locates, tracks sea targets and relays the information to the B-2. That is according to the train integrating beyond-line-of-sight communications and multi-domain concentrating on, as talked about by the 53rd Wing.
“We’re constructing readiness on either side of the Atlantic and [making] maritime strike extra distributed, survivable, and built-in,” stated 72nd TES commander Lt Col. Stephen Bressett.
Future
Questions nevertheless stay on the general strategic efficacy and utility of utilizing B-2 Spirits for placing ships with guided bombs. For one, the JDAM bombs, with ranges anticipated to be between 45 and 55 miles, nowhere supply the large standoff distances of devoted anti-ship missiles just like the AGM-88 Harpoon or the AGM-158C LRASM.
The benefit is that the B-2 Spirit’s stealth permits it to get nearer to the goal with a really low probability of detection. The JDAM’s lack of an energetic seeker and low infrared signature would additionally depart little hint for surface-to-air radar and missile sensors to lock on.
Lastly, naval powers like Russia or China could be working with a full flotilla, their very own naval air arm, and backed by land-fired, coastal protection standoff ship-killing missiles. B-2 bombers then again could be outsized for such a tactical strike, and extra suited to hitting bigger, strategic targets on land with typical and non-conventional weapons.
Quicksink bombs could possibly be only for hitting smaller civilian-based vessels that the PLA Navy is anticipated to press into service, as had been seen with Z-10 assault helicopters working from a semi-submersible service provider vessel final October. These unencumber the larger Allied warships, multirole plane, Harpoons and LRASMs for targets that demand higher-end capabilities.
The Chief of the AFRL’s Munitions Directorate, Col. Matthew Caspers, had beforehand provided the doctrinal idea behind B-2 Spirit using the brand new weapon: “QUICKSINK is the results of a Joint collaboration that quickly prototyped an reasonably priced idea for holding floor targets in danger.”
