US B-2 bomber tests “game-changer” weapon amid China’s naval buildup

An American B-2 stealth bomber has recently tested a new anti-ship weapon described as a "game-changer," as the US responds to China’s rapidly expanding naval forces in the Pacific.

The weapon, named Quicksink, is designed to "rapidly and efficiently" destroy maritime targets, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The test took place at a range in the Gulf of Mexico near Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and involved the 500-pound version of the Quicksink bomb. Based on official imagery, the test was likely conducted in late April. China currently holds the world’s largest naval fleet by hull numbers, with over 370 ships and submarines, including two active aircraft carriers, according to the Pentagon. This capability enables Beijing to expand its military influence throughout the western Pacific and beyond. In response to China's expanding naval reach, the US has been equipping Pacific allies—such as Australia, Japan, and Taiwan—with anti-ship weaponry, including the Maritime Strike Tomahawk, a specialized variant of the Tomahawk cruise missile intended for use against ships.

The Quicksink program is part of the US Air Force’s initiative to provide an "air-delivered, low-cost, surface vessel defeat capability" aimed at enhancing the military’s global reach and ensuring freedom of navigation in strategic maritime zones. The weapon itself is an upgraded version of the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), a family of GPS-guided bombs. A larger, 2,000-pound Quicksink variant was successfully trialed in the Pacific during an earlier military exercise, the Air Force noted. 

The recently tested, smaller version of Quicksink is adapted from the GBU-38 JDAM and is intended to expand the B-2’s mission capabilities. The B-2 Spirit is engineered to evade advanced air defenses and can carry up to 40,000 pounds of munitions. According to the Air Force Research Laboratory, this new weapon offers a fast and flexible response to threats at sea, significantly boosting counter-maritime strike capacity. It has not yet been confirmed whether Quicksink has been officially deployed.

By Naila Huseynova