United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) has released unique footage of operational demonstration of the newest aerial maritime mine, called the Quickstrike-ER (QS-ER).

The Command had stated the B-52 Stratofortress, assigned to the 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., conducted the final and largest demonstration of the Quickstrike 64-ER Naval mine project, a USINDOPACOM initiative as part of ongoing efforts to modernize and enhance military readiness throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

This is the final and largest demonstration of the project and is part of a two-year joint effort to develop, test, and operationally demonstrate QS-ER. USINDOPACOM initiated the project as part of ongoing efforts to modernize and enhance military readiness throughout the joint forces in the Indo-Pacific region.

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“Current mine technology, while effective, has been largely unchanged since World War II,” said Dr. George Ka‘iliwai III, USINDOPACOM Director of Requirements and Resources. “These innovations and capabilities in the QS-ER project will allow our forces to generate more effective minefields from longer ranges and more rapidly than ever before.”

The QS64-ER combines Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) technology and an additional wing kit and battery section with existing mine components. This allows it to be delivered long range and high altitude, which significantly reduces risk to the aircraft.

“This aerial maritime mine is compatible, interoperable, and can be employed by virtually any JDAM enabled aircraft, including foreign partners,” said Ka‘iliwai. “These capabilities will serve as a significant deterrent in peacetime and an effective operational and strategic tool in wartime.”

A B-52 bomber from the 49th Test Squadron out of Barksdale, La. carried out the exercise and released four inert QS64-ER 2000lb mine shapes on a remote shallow water location of the PMRF.

“These innovations, combined with the global reach of America’s bomber fleet, enhance a joint force ready to fight and win,” said Lt Col. Joseph Little, Commander, 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron The USAF is actively pursuing ways and means, along with our Joint partners, to develop and produce new technologies, like the QS-ER and the effort to modernize the B-52H, in a much more rapid capacity so that we bring the future faster.”

USINDOPACOM protects and defends, in concert with other U.S. Government agencies, the territory of the United States, its people, and its interests. With allies and partners, USINDOPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression, and, when necessary, fighting to win. This approach is based on partnership, presence, and military readiness.