GBU-31 JDAM (QUICKSINK mod)

[CV60]

This is pretty impressive. In late April, the USAF tested a GBU-31 JDAM, modified with QUICKSINK. The purpose of the demonstration is to get torpedo levels of lethality against ships in an air launched weapon. From the video embedded in the article, they were successful

https://gcaptain.com/air-force-tests-ne ... 28239a3349

[Blast33]

See item in Github:
https://github.com/PygmalionOfCyprus/cm ... issues/347

[Gunner98]

That is deadly - wow

[dcpollay]

This statement gives me pause: "...with a minority of vessels possessing anti-air capability."

It seems to me most larger vessels that would be a "maritime threat" would have substantial air defenses. Can these bombs (essentially free-fall bombs) be engaged by SAMs or CIWS? Smaller patrol-size combatants might not have defenses, but the size of the bomb seems overkill for those.

What is the niche for this weapon? I suppose it could be adapted to a smaller bomb, but how unique is that?

[CV60]

This statement gives me pause: "...with a minority of vessels possessing anti-air capability."

It seems to me most larger vessels that would be a "maritime threat" would have substantial air defenses. {snip]

Not necessarily. Oilers and Replenishment vessels are high priority targets that are frequently steaming alone. Also, there is a "Shipping Container mod" for the YJ-18C or Klub C missiles that allow them to be launched from what is effectively an armed cargo ship. This would be very useful against those types of ships. Also, because this was simply a test, it it may be that the warhead can be fitted to missiles. Also, it could be useful for some warships. For example, the JDAM has a max range of about 15 nm (depending on altitude), which outranges the SA-N-9 on a UDALOY.

I suspect that this program is part of the USN/USAF strategy of putting more ASUW-capable ordinance on more platforms to give the theater/battlegroup commander more options for engaging surface targets, while simultaneously complicating REDFORs targeting and defense problem, as all USN/USAF units are now [note; edited from "not"] potential threats. Having more shooters also helps the USN cope with adequately covering all the area it must with a decreasing number of platforms. We did the same thing in the late 70's-early 80s when we had B-52Hs and P-3C and fitted with HARPOONs

[Coiler12]

I suspect that this program is part of the USN/USAF strategy of putting more ASUW-capable ordinance on more platforms to give the theater/battlegroup commander more options for engaging surface targets, while simultaneously complicating REDFORs targeting and defense problem

This is what I like to call the "mobile quarterback effect", where in American football, having a quarterback who's fast on his feet causes problems for the defense because they have to take that into account in ways they don't for someone who just stands there and throws. A similar thing in basketball is having every player on the team good at distant shooting. It was just the analogy I thought of when I saw this.

[Blast33]

This statement gives me pause: "...with a minority of vessels possessing anti-air capability."

It seems to me most larger vessels that would be a "maritime threat" would have substantial air defenses. Can these bombs (essentially free-fall bombs) be engaged by SAMs or CIWS? Smaller patrol-size combatants might not have defenses, but the size of the bomb seems overkill for those.

What is the niche for this weapon? I suppose it could be adapted to a smaller bomb, but how unique is that?

Maybe they have the swarming missile boat fleet of Iran in mind?
But I agree a MK-84 warhead is quite something for the job

Iran-Boosts-Swarm-Attack-Capabilities.jpg (60.87 KiB) Viewed 1361 times

[maverick3320]

This statement gives me pause: "...with a minority of vessels possessing anti-air capability."

It seems to me most larger vessels that would be a "maritime threat" would have substantial air defenses. Can these bombs (essentially free-fall bombs) be engaged by SAMs or CIWS? Smaller patrol-size combatants might not have defenses, but the size of the bomb seems overkill for those.

What is the niche for this weapon? I suppose it could be adapted to a smaller bomb, but how unique is that?

Maybe they have the swarming missile boat fleet of Iran in mind?
But I agree a MK-84 warhead is quite something for the job
Iran-Boosts-Swarm-Attack-Capabilities.jpg

I think some directed energy weapons have been developed with swarms of smaller craft in mind. Not to mention a 100 year old .50 cal will probably do just fine against any craft in that picture.

[SeaQueen]

What is the niche for this weapon? I suppose it could be adapted to a smaller bomb, but how unique is that?

I could imagine anything from a FF down to corvette type small surface combatants where you wouldn't want to use more expensive and exquisite weapons (e.g. LRASM, NSM, JSM, Harpoon, Maritime Strike Tomahawk). It's a big warhead but it's still cheaper than some of the more fancy weapons which are more appropriate for higher end targets. It's also bigger than a Hellfire, which is the current option for striking small surface vessels. That might be too small. It fills up the "in between" gap, where maybe the Hellfire doesn't produce an acceptably high Pk but you don't want to waste a more expensive fancy missile either. It also gives fast moving jets an option for striking small surface vessels besides aging Mavericks and LGBs, which might be sensitive to aerosols like sea spray. It may be sort of a niche weapon, but it's a wide enough niche that I think it might be worth buying some of them for certain theaters.

It's always good to have the option.

[CV60]

And I'm embarrassed that this wasn't the first scenario that crossed my mind for using QUICKSINK: It comes in handy In case you have 5000 Chinese merchant ships crossing the Taiwan Straits all at the same time.....
https://gcaptain.com/quicksink-china-ar ... ant-ships/

"“This weapon changes things for China’s far-flung and badly-behaved fleets,” says Hooper. “QUICKSINK is a simple kinetic capability where a low-cost Air Force Research Laboratory guidance kit is strapped onto a 2,000-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM). With lots and lots of JDAMs in the world’s arsenal, and given that JDAMs can be dropped by virtually any military aircraft, “QUICKSINK” is a mortal threat to China’s Gray Zone fleet. Now the United States has a low-cost weapon to neutralize large craft anywhere and in any weather quickly.”