The US Air Force demonstrated a new high-precision Quicksink anti-ship torpedo that literally breaks ships in half. A video released during exercises in the Gulf of Mexico shows a B-1 bomber using a Quicksink munition to destroy the MV Monarch Countess. Interesting Engineering writes about it.
The latest torpedo was developed by the Ordnance Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and can be used by both fighters and bombers. One of Quicksink's key advantages is its relatively low cost— At $300 000, it is significantly cheaper than similar munitions for which the Pentagon typically spends more than $1.2 million.
The torpedo uses a modular, open-architecture design and a JDAM suite of equipment that allows you to turn a free-falling bomb into a modified ammunition. This makes it possible to aim a torpedo at a ship, regardless of whether it is stationary or moving.
Among the disadvantages of Quicksink, experts note its limited flight range — only 74 kilometers, which makes the attacking aircraft vulnerable to air defenses. At the same time, the torpedo can be used by inconspicuous aircraft flying at high altitudes and high speeds, which reduces the risks for attacking forces.