The ability of US stealth bombers to conduct anti-ship strikes could play a critical role in the Red Sea or Arabian Gulf in disrupting undefended enemy logistics such as cargo ships and oilers.

The QUICKSINK program, a partnership between the US Navy and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), provides options to neutralize surface maritime threats.

While torpedoes predominantly come from submarines, new methods explored through QUICKSINK are meant to achieve anti-ship lethality with air-launched weapons, including modified 907.2kg precision-guided bombs.

It primarily comprises a Weapon Open Systems Architecture seeker that can be integrated with the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), a guidance kit that converts unguided, free-fall bombs into accurate, "smart" munitions.

It includes a redesigned nose plug intended to keep a bomb from veering off in an unintended direction if it hits the water before the target.

This new anti-ship capability was tested in July as part of the massive Pacific Rim exercise RIMPAC.

During the drills, a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber sunk the ex-USS Tarawa, an amphibious assault ship, using QUICKSINK and precision-guided bombs.

The B-2 proved "a low-cost, air-delivered method for defeating surface vessels through a QUICKSINK demonstration," the US Navy said.

"This capability is an answer to an urgent need to quickly neutralize maritime threats over massive expanses of ocean around the world at minimal costs," the Navy added.

Securing expansive maritime zones

QUICKSINK represents a renewed focus for the Air Force, which traditionally has focused more on air and land targets rather than on maritime ones.

However, the growing need to secure vast maritime areas has pushed the Air Force to bolster its ability to rapidly and effectively target ships that may threaten US interests or disrupt vital shipping routes.

One of the significant advantages of the QUICKSINK program is its ability to deliver high-impact results without the high costs associated with traditional anti-ship missiles or torpedoes.

Unlike traditional torpedoes that require specialized launch platforms to deploy, QUICKSINK can be used by a wide array of aircraft, giving commanders greater flexibility in neutralizing maritime threats at a fraction of the cost.

The Air Force's stealth bombers, such as the B-2 Spirit, could carry and release multiple QUICKSINK bombs, enabling them to target multiple vessels across expansive maritime zones in a single sortie.

Tactical fighters like the F-15E Strike Eagles are also capable of deploying QUICKSINK, but the B-2 can carry a significantly larger payload.

The B-2 has other advantages: its faint radar signature allows it to approach enemy vessels undetected, delivering surprise attacks that leave little time for enemy response.