OVERVIEW: The Mk63 Quickstrike is a 1,000 lb air-delivered bottom influence mine derived from the Mk83 bomb, designed to disable or destroy surface vessels and submarines in shallow coastal waters. It employs programmable magnetic and seismic fuzes for selective engagement based on vessel signatures.

DETAILS: Introduced in 1982, the Mk63 uses the Mk83 general-purpose bomb body fitted with a modular mine conversion kit that includes the Mk57 Target Detection Device (TDD). The mine contains approximately 445 lb of high explosive and is parachute-retarded for stable descent and proper seabed orientation. Its programmable features include arming delay, ship count discrimination, and self-sterilization timers, allowing tailored deployment in littoral zones or near naval chokepoints. The mine’s influence sensors can detect specific patterns of magnetic and seismic activity associated with vessels, improving target selectivity and reducing the risk of accidental detonation. It enables rapid conversion of standard aircraft munitions into naval mines for strategic area denial.

FUNCTION: Once deployed from an aircraft, the mine sinks to the seabed and arms after a preset delay. It monitors the surrounding environment for magnetic and seismic signatures of passing surface vessels or submarines, detonating only when a qualifying target is detected.

NOTE:
IOC: 1982
Operators: United States Navy
Platforms: B-52H, F/A-18, P-3C, and other aircraft certified for Mk83 carriage
Conflict used in: Cold War contingency mining operations; no confirmed combat use

SOURCE: U.S. Navy Mine Warfare Manual ; Navy Aviation Training Publication: https://navyaviation.tpub.com/14024/css/Mk-62-63-And-64-Quickstrike-Mines-161.htm ; GlobalSecurity.org Mk63 Overview: https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/mk63.htm ; Federation of American Scientists (FAS): https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/sea/mine.htm