If a military clash erupts in the Indo-Pacific, the U.S. Navy’s top priority will be clear: how do you sink a Chinese aircraft carrier — fast? The answer might just be more surprising — and terrifying — than anyone expected. At this year’s RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific) exercise, the U.S. Air Force unveiled a game-changing capability that left China’s military brass sweating: a cheap, devastating weapon dropped from the most advanced bomber ever built.
During this large-scale military exercise, the Air Force demonstrated a weapon called “Quicksink.” It is so smart that it doesn’t require human guidance and can sink a massive 39,000-ton ship in minutes. The Quicksink technology is set to revolutionize naval warfare and significantly impact U.S. strategic capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. But what exactly is Quicksink, how was it developed, and why is China’s navy deeply concerned about it?
Growing Tensions in the Indo-Pacific
As tensions in the Indo-Pacific rise, the stakes are higher than ever. The question of how to neutralize a powerful enemy aircraft carrier is crucial, especially given China’s growing naval power. Since World War II, no naval threat has been as formidable, and China’s recent military expansion reflects its understanding of the importance of controlling the seas.
China’s navy has undergone rapid expansion, with three aircraft carriers already operational and plans to expand to five carriers by 2030 and six by 2035. However, while China’s navy is increasing in number, it lacks the battle-tested experience and logistical support that the U.S. Navy has developed over decades. This discrepancy between quantity and operational experience gives the U.S. a crucial edge. Still, Beijing hopes that by the 2030s, it can achieve local naval superiority over a U.S. Navy spread across multiple global hotspots.
U.S. Naval Superiority and Force Multipliers
Despite having 11 aircraft carriers, the United States cannot commit all its naval resources to the Indo-Pacific. Other regions, such as the Middle East and Eastern Europe, also require attention, a reality that China is counting on. To counter this, U.S. military planners are looking for ways to inflict disproportionate harm on Chinese forces with fewer resources. Quicksink is one of these force multipliers — a low-cost weapon capable of sinking enormous ships swiftly.
The Quicksink program was designed to modify existing U.S. military weapons for anti-ship purposes. It uses a modified version of the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) bomb, a 2,000-pound Mark 84 bomb fitted with a Quicksink kit. This kit includes advanced GPS-guided tail fins and new radar seekers to direct the bomb toward its target. Additionally, infrared imaging allows it to identify a ship’s hull and strike just below the waterline for maximum impact, creating an effect similar to a heavy torpedo.
RIMPAC 2024: A Demonstration of Power
The 2024 RIMPAC exercise, which involved 29 countries, saw the Quicksink technology in action. The U.S. military tested the bomb by targeting the USS Tarawa, a massive 39,000-ton decommissioned amphibious assault ship. Built in the early 1970s, the Tarawa was once a key component of the U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault fleet. During the exercise, the ship was hit by multiple weapons, including an AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) and a Naval Strike Missile launched by the Australian destroyer HMAS Sydney.
While these attacks did significant damage, it was the final blow from the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber that demonstrated the full power of Quicksink. The converted Mark 84 bomb, armed with a Quicksink kit, detonated just below the waterline, sinking the massive Tarawa in one shot. The speed and precision of this attack were a clear message to potential adversaries like China: the U.S. has the ability to quickly neutralize large ships with relatively cheap and easily deployable weapons.
The Cost-Effectiveness of Quicksink
One of the most attractive aspects of Quicksink is its low cost. While anti-ship missiles such as the LRASM can cost over $3 million per unit, and the Naval Strike Missile around $2.2 million, Quicksink relies on much cheaper JDAM bombs. A standard JDAM kit costs about $25,000, and when added to a surplus Mark 84 bomb, the total cost is significantly lower than high-tech missiles or torpedoes.
This low-cost, high-impact weaponry is essential for modern warfare, where maintaining a large stockpile of expensive weapons is financially unsustainable. Quicksink allows the U.S. military to deploy smart ship-killing munitions on a budget, making it a critical tool for any prolonged conflict, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, where China’s naval forces are rapidly expanding.
The Strategic Advantage of Stealth Bombers
The U.S. Air Force’s B-2 Spirit bomber played a crucial role in the RIMPAC 2024 exercise, and its capabilities will only expand with the arrival of the B-21 Raider in the 2030s. The B-21, like the B-2, will be equipped with Quicksink capabilities, but with a fleet size of around 200 bombers, giving the U.S. an even greater ability to respond to threats around the globe.
The stealthy nature of the B-2 and B-21 bombers means they can approach enemy ships without being detected, launching devastating attacks from a distance. A single B-2 can carry up to 16 Quicksink bombs, allowing it to sink multiple ships in a single mission. With bases such as Guam and Diego Garcia within reach of key Indo-Pacific flashpoints, these bombers can be deployed quickly to neutralize Chinese naval forces.
Expanding Quicksink Capabilities
While the B-2 Spirit and B-21 Raider are the primary platforms for Quicksink, the U.S. Air Force is exploring ways to expand the bomb’s capabilities to fighter aircraft like the F-35A and the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) platform. This would provide even greater flexibility, allowing Quicksink bombs to be deployed from a wider range of aircraft stationed in places like Japan or the Philippines, further complicating China’s naval ambitions.
Additionally, Boeing has been working on a new version of JDAM called the Powered Joint Direct Attack Munition (PJDAM). This new system would turn JDAM bombs into cruise missiles with a range of up to 300 miles, significantly increasing their reach. While the PJDAM currently uses smaller 500-pound bombs, the concept could potentially be scaled up to include the 2,000-pound Mark 84 bombs used by Quicksink, offering an even longer-range ship-killing capability.
The Implications for China
For China, the demonstration of Quicksink technology is a serious cause for concern. The ability of the U.S. to sink large ships quickly and cheaply poses a direct threat to China’s naval strategy, particularly in the First Island Chain, where control of the seas is crucial for any military operation.
As China continues to expand its naval forces, including its aircraft carrier fleet, the U.S. Air Force’s Quicksink program offers a powerful countermeasure. Whether deployed from stealth bombers or fighter jets, the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of Quicksink make it a formidable tool in any potential conflict, putting Chinese naval assets at risk.
The 2024 RIMPAC exercise demonstrated the future of naval warfare, with the U.S. Air Force’s Quicksink bomb leading the way. This inexpensive yet highly effective weapon has the potential to change the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, providing the U.S. military with a crucial advantage in any confrontation with China. As tensions in the region continue to rise, Quicksink represents a powerful deterrent, ensuring that the U.S. can quickly neutralize any naval threat, no matter how large or well-equipped.
