GBU-31 Anti Ship

[Adagosto]

I'm sorry if this has already been discussed....

Couple questions. Is the anti ship variant of the GBU-31 modeled in Command?

And does this variant more difficult to shoot down than a Harpoon for instance? Are there advantages of the weapon because it is more difficult to defeat?

Thx!

[thewood1]

Do you mean Quicksink? Did you look up GBU-31 in the database viewer? Because the Quicksink is listed.

The detection range is about even with the 31 being slightly bigger. The key is the Harpoon runs at 10m from the surface and the 31 is dropped from thousands of feet. Another key might be the rock motor leaving a telltale.

[Adagosto]

Yes. You have it right....

Thank you.

[SeaQueen]

No, but I suspect it could be. QuickSink is currently an Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) project that they've done some high profile tests on.

QuickSink is exactly what it says it is. It's an ordinary JDAM that's been modified to damage ships in such a way that they sink more quickly.

[Adagosto]

Right I understand what it does. It was also touted as being an aerial dropped version of a torpedo with torpedo-like effects. Now while the effects might be similar, I'm thinking a JDM is a lot easier for air defenses to defeat than a torpedo is to defeat.

So my question is, which one has a better chance of impacting the target?

[SeaQueen]

So my question is, which one has a better chance of impacting the target?

Well... since a JDAM is a GPS guided munition and can only hit a target that isn't moving, the answer is the torpedo, if it's moving, which ships are most of the time. The air defenses are just the icing on the cake.

The way to understand QuickSink is as an experiment, to maybe improve future air munitions. While it's definitely very neat, it's hard to imagine a real world application of it. Maybe ships anchored in port?

[Adagosto]

OHHH....now I'm with you. I really wasn't thinking of this as a front line weapon and while cool to have sure, the practicality seemed a bit off to me. The media outlets that talked about made it seem like this new cool weapon that's just like a torpedo in it's kill ability, but dropped from an aircraft. I'm like....so.

Ok that makes sense now.

[Gunner98]

...The media outlets that talked about made it seem like this new cool weapon ...

It's sometimes hard to tell the difference between facts and sales pitch these days. When the game is about the click-count and not necessarily about providing reasoned and informed analysis you get a lot of sites jumping on the same bandwagon with anything that looks 'official' without scratching the surface.

Was just looking at something and 5 different sites had exactly the same text, not just the same story --- the same f..ing text --- mostly without giving credit

[tylerblakebrandon]

So I I checked and the DB version of Quicksink matches the below article in that the Quicksink seeker is dual ARH and IIR.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/n ... s-revealed

and the USMC is touting Quicksink as an addition to their anti-ship arsenal.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... s-arsenal/