Munitions

Mk 62 Quickstrike naval mine

Also known as
  • Mk 62
  • Mk-62
  • Mark 62
  • Mark-62
  • GBU-62B(V-1)/B
  • GBU-62 Quickstrike-ER
  • Quickstrike-ER
  • Quickstrike
  • Quickstrike mine
  • Quickstrike naval mine

The Mk 62 Quickstrike is the U.S. Navy's 500-pound aircraft-laid naval mine, built from a converted general-purpose bomb body for shallow-water maritime area denial. Navy fact-file coverage places it in the Quickstrike family, Air University writing identifies the GBU-62B(V-1)/B Quickstrike-ER as a JDAM-ER-equipped Mk 62 configuration, and Air Force reporting documents B-52H and B-1B training with Mk 62 mines.

Mk 62 Quickstrike naval mine, 500-pound naval mine, Munitions
Image source: USAF, Navy integrate for Bomber Task Force MineX
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States
Type
500-pound naval mine
Service note
1983-present
Produced
1983-present

Specifications

Weight
500-pound class
Body
Mk 82-class general-purpose bomb body with mine hardware and target-detection device
Delivery
Aircraft-laid shallow-water bottom mine
Depth envelope
40 to 200 feet for Quickstrike bottom mines, per Air University
Family
Quickstrike family
Targets
Surface and subsurface craft
Role
Maritime area denial
Extended-range configuration
GBU-62B(V-1)/B Quickstrike-ER with JDAM-ER wing and GBU-38 guidance kit
Variants

The Navy fact file places Mk 62 in the Quickstrike family of aircraft-laid shallow-water mines; Mk 62 is the 500-pound bomb-body conversion, while Air University writing identifies GBU-62B(V-1)/B as a winged extended-range Mk 62 configuration.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
GBU-62B(V-1)/B Quickstrike-ERExtended-range Mk 62 configuration

Air University describes GBU-62B(V-1)/B as a Mk 62 Quickstrike fitted with a BSU-104 JDAM-ER wing and the GBU-38 guidance kit for standoff mine delivery.

Sources: Twenty-First-Century Aerial Mining

Mk 63 Quickstrike naval mine1,000-pound Quickstrike mine

The Navy fact file describes Mk 63 as the 1,000-pound Quickstrike mine converted from a general-purpose bomb body.

Sources: U.S. Navy Mines

Mk 65 Quick Strike naval mine, 2,000-pound naval mine, MunitionsMk 65 Quick Strike naval mine2,000-pound Quickstrike mine

The Navy fact file distinguishes Mk 65 from Mk 62 and Mk 63 because Mk 65 uses a thin-walled mine case rather than a converted bomb body.

Sources: U.S. Navy Mines

Carrier Aircraft

Official Air Force, Strategic Command, and DVIDS coverage ties Mk 62 training and carriage to long-range bomber aircraft rather than direct public combat employment.

CarrierCarrier typeCarriage evidence
B-1B Lancer, Long-range, multi-role supersonic bomber, Aircraft & UAVsB-1B LancerLong-range bomber

The B-1B Lancer fact sheet lists up to 84 Mk-62 naval mines, 7th Air Force MineX coverage shows Mk 62 mines loaded onto a B-1B, and DVIDS reporting says B-1Bs released 35 Mk 62 mines during a 2024 sea mine-warfare exercise.

Sources: B-1B Lancer, USAF, Navy integrate for Bomber Task Force MineX, BTF 24-6 Mk 62 release

P-3C Orion patrol aircraft, Maritime patrol aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsP-3C Orion patrol aircraftMaritime-patrol aircraft

U.S. Navy image metadata documents a Mk 62 Quick Strike mine deployed from a VP-46 P-3C Orion during the CARAT 2004 mine exercise.

Sources: U.S. Navy Mk 62 P-3C CARAT image

B-52 Stratofortress, Long-range heavy bomber, Aircraft & UAVsB-52 StratofortressLong-range bomber

U.S. Air Force and Strategic Command coverage documents Mk 62 Quickstrike mines loaded or prepared with B-52H aircraft during BALTOPS 15, Barksdale training, and RIMPAC 2022 support, while Air University describes a B-52H releasing the GBU-62B(V-1)/B Quickstrike-ER demonstrator north of Guam.

Sources: U.S. Air Force, Navy build inert mines for BALTOPS 15, 2nd AMXS loads naval mines, Quickstrike inspection, Twenty-First-Century Aerial Mining

Mine Body And Delivery Context

Mk 62 sits at the light end of the current U.S. Quickstrike family: it uses the 500-pound bomb-body path, while heavier Quickstrike members cover 1,000-pound and 2,000-pound classes.

Bomb-body conversion

The Navy identifies Mk 62 and Mk 63 as converted general-purpose bomb bodies laid by aircraft in shallow water.

Mk 62 is the 500-pound class; Mk 63 is the 1,000-pound class.

Extended-range path

Air University identifies GBU-62B(V-1)/B Quickstrike-ER as a Mk 62 fitted with a JDAM-ER wing and GBU-38 guidance kit.

The cited 2014 B-52H release was an inert demonstration north of Guam.

Public documentation

Official public records are strongest for inventory, training, loading, and exercise-release context.

No direct conflict-use row is added without a source tying Mk 62 to a named conflict.

Source labels used here: U.S. Navy Mines; Twenty-First-Century Aerial Mining; U.S. Navy Mk 62 P-3C CARAT image; U.S. Air Force, Navy build inert mines for BALTOPS 15; 2nd AMXS loads naval mines; BTF 24-6 Mk 62 release.

Timeline

Mk 62 Quickstrike naval mine Key Events

  1. Quickstrike family deployed

    The Navy fact file lists 1983 as the first deployment year for the Mk 62, Mk 63, and Mk 65 Quickstrike aerial-delivered mine series.

    Sources: U.S. Navy Mines

  2. P-3C CARAT mine drop

    U.S. Navy image metadata documents a Mk 62 Quick Strike mine being deployed from a VP-46 P-3C Orion during the Thailand phase of CARAT 2004.

    Sources: U.S. Navy Mk 62 P-3C CARAT image

  3. Quickstrike-ER released from B-52H

    Air University describes a B-52H north of Guam releasing an inert GBU-62B(V-1)/B Quickstrike-ER, demonstrating a winged Mk 62-derived standoff mine configuration.

    Sources: Twenty-First-Century Aerial Mining

  4. BALTOPS 15 inert mine build

    Minot Air Force Base coverage documents Navy minemen and Air Force personnel building inert Mk 62 Quick Strike mines for B-52H use during BALTOPS 15.

    Sources: U.S. Air Force, Navy build inert mines for BALTOPS 15

  5. B-52H Mk 62 training load

    U.S. Strategic Command imagery documents Mk 62 Quickstrike mines being transferred and loaded with B-52H Stratofortress crews at Barksdale Air Force Base.

    Sources: 2nd AMXS loads naval mines

  6. B-1B sea mine-warfare release

    DVIDS reporting on Bomber Task Force 24-6 says B-1B Lancers integrated with the U.S. Navy in a sea mine-warfare exercise and released 35 Mk 62 Naval Quickstrike mines.

    Sources: BTF 24-6 Mk 62 release

Media

Mk 62 Quickstrike naval mine Images

Mk 62 Quickstrike naval mine, 500-pound naval mine, Munitions - view 1
Source: USAF, Navy integrate for Bomber Task Force MineX
Mk 62 Quickstrike naval mine, 500-pound naval mine, Munitions - view 2
Source: USAF, Navy integrate for Bomber Task Force MineX
Mk 62 Quickstrike naval mine, 500-pound naval mine, Munitions - view 3
Source: USAF, Navy integrate for Bomber Task Force MineX
Related Weapon Systems
GBU-31 JDAM (Mk 84 / BLU-109), 2,000-pound GPS/INS-guided bomb configuration, MunitionsMunitionsGBU-31 JDAM (Mk 84 / BLU-109)2,000-pound GPS/INS-guided bomb configurationThe GBU-31 JDAM is the 2,000-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition configuration built around Boeing's GPS/INS tail kit and either a Mk 84-class general-purpose bomb body or a BLU-109 hard-target penetrator body. U.S. military and Federal Register sources distinguish the KMU-556 Mk 84 configuration from the KMU-557 BLU-109 configuration, while direct conflict-use reporting traces GBU-31/JDAM employment from Kosovo and Afghanistan to Iraq, Yemen, Operation Inherent Resolve, the Israel-Hamas war, and the 2025 Israel-Iran conflict.
GBU-31(V)1 Joint Direct Attack Munition, 2,000-pound JDAM bomb, MunitionsMunitionsGBU-31(V)1 Joint Direct Attack Munition2,000-pound JDAM bombThe GBU-31(V)1/B Joint Direct Attack Munition is the Mk 84 general-purpose lane of the 2,000-pound JDAM family, combining Boeing's GPS/INS tail-control kit with a 2,000-pound-class bomb body. Official Air Force, Navy, Boeing, and security-assistance sources separate this KMU-556/Mk 84 configuration from BLU-109 penetrator GBU-31 variants, while direct records document exact or Mk 84-specific GBU-31 use in the 2011 Libya air campaign and the 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict.

Sources

U.S. Navy MinesPublisher: U.S. Navy | Note: Supports the Mk 62 Quickstrike's 500-pound class, aircraft-laid shallow-water role, Quickstrike family context, 1983 deployment year, Mk 63/Mk 65 family distinctions, and multiple-contractor manufacturer background for the Navy mine family. | Accessed: 2026-07-02B-1B LancerPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports the B-1B armament list and carriage context for up to 84 Mk-62 naval mines in the bomber's internal weapons bays. | Accessed: 2026-07-02USAF, Navy integrate for Bomber Task Force MineXPublisher: 7th Air Force | Note: Supports image provenance and direct carriage context for Mk 62 Quickstrike mines loaded onto a B-1B during Bomber Task Force MineX training. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Twenty-First-Century Aerial MiningPublisher: Air University | Note: Supports the GBU-62B(V-1)/B Quickstrike-ER designation, its Mk 62/JDAM-ER configuration, the 23 September 2014 B-52H inert release, and standoff-delivery context. | Accessed: 2026-07-022nd AMXS loads naval minesPublisher: U.S. Strategic Command | Note: Supports B-52H carrier-aircraft context, Mk 62 loading and transfer imagery at Barksdale Air Force Base, and public-domain image provenance for B-52H/Mk 62 training coverage. | Accessed: 2026-07-02BTF 24-6 Mk 62 releasePublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports the 2024 Bomber Task Force 24-6 sea mine-warfare exercise note that B-1B Lancers released 35 Mk 62 Naval Quickstrike mines. | Accessed: 2026-07-02U.S. Navy Mk 62 P-3C CARAT imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports public-domain image metadata for a Mk 62 Quick Strike mine deployed from a VP-46 P-3C Orion during CARAT 2004. | Accessed: 2026-07-02U.S. Air Force, Navy build inert mines for BALTOPS 15Publisher: Minot Air Force Base | Note: Supports B-52H carrier-aircraft context and BALTOPS 15 training coverage for inert Mk 62 Quick Strike mines built and loaded with B-52H crews. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Quickstrike Mine Bomb Build and B-1 Load B-RollPublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports public-domain video provenance for Navy and Air Force Quickstrike mine build and B-1 loading footage; not used as a YouTube embed because the official asset is hosted by DVIDS. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Quickstrike inspectionPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance for a Mk 62 Naval Quickstrike mine under a B-52H Stratofortress during RIMPAC 2022 support at Barksdale Air Force Base. | Accessed: 2026-07-02NMC Mine Build TrainingPublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance for Navy Munitions Command training that shows an arming device installed into an inert Mk 62 Quickstrike mine. | Accessed: 2026-07-02