Yesterday, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) officially announced that its B-2 Spirit stealth bombers have been participating in strike exercises aimed at demonstrating their capabilities in the Norwegian Sea, with Norway also taking part through the deployment of its Royal Air Force F-35 fighters. Specifically, the exercise involved the use of the new QUICKSINK guided anti-ship bomb developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory, with the objective of assessing its effectiveness in sinking a ship under realistic conditions.
The employment of the new QUICKSINK anti-ship bomb adds to a series of previous trials that also involved B-2 bombers and F-15E fighters, as recorded in June and August 2024, marking progress in the program. Development began in 2021, with the Air Force’s goal being to acquire a weapon capable of striking enemy vessels at weak points in their hulls, particularly below the waterline, thereby providing lower-cost attack alternatives compared to the heavy torpedoes currently used for this type of mission.
Colonel Scott Gunn, commander of the USAF’s 53rd Wing—the unit that deployed the B-2 in question—addressed these issues: “This test is a clear example of how we collaborate with trusted allies to implement new capabilities more quickly and intelligently. We are not just preparing for the future; we are building it together.” He also detailed that the strikes conducted during the exercise were successful, validating the capabilities of both the new weapon and the stealth aircraft.
Furthermore, the USAF highlighted that Norway facilitated the mission not only through the deployment of its F-35 stealth fighters in support of the B-2, but also by allowing the U.S. aircraft to use critical infrastructure and transit Norwegian airspace. This enabled the exercise to be carried out in a realistic and challenging environment, a key aspect for shaping and validating tactics and procedures for operations of this nature.
It should also be recalled that the U.S., French, and Norwegian navies recently conducted a series of naval exercises beginning on August 23, demonstrating the strong defense ties these countries share. The exercises were notable for the participation of the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest in the world. As part of its escort, the destroyers USS Bainbridge and USS Mahan were also deployed, accompanying it along the coasts of the Svalbard region.
It is also worth noting that during these activities, it was reported that a Russian Navy Il-38 maritime patrol aircraft and at least one Russian ship were deployed to monitor the aforementioned force, given that they were operating in Arctic areas of great strategic interest to Moscow. In the case of the aircraft, it conducted low-altitude flights that allowed easy detection by the ships, which, according to Norwegian naval authorities, is a completely normal occurrence for this type of exercise.
Image credits: U.S. Air Force
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