Akula vs Improved Kilo

The Akula and the Improved Kilo are both Submarine classes. The Akula displaces 8,140 tons — 3.5x the Improved Kilo's 2,325 tons. The Akula reaches 10 knots vs 12 knots for the Improved Kilo. Operational range is 99,999 nautical miles for the Akula vs 7,500 for the Improved Kilo. The Akula carries a crew of 73 vs 52 for the Improved Kilo. Submerged displacement is 12,770 tons for the Akula vs 3,075 tons for the Improved Kilo. The Akula can dive to 600 m compared to 300 m for the Improved Kilo. The Akula was produced in 15 units vs 75 for the Improved Kilo. Cost per hull is $1,550M for the Akula vs $200M for the Improved Kilo. The Akula was commissioned in 1984, 4 years after the Improved Kilo (1980).

Soviet nuclear attack submarine, introduced in 1984, displaces 8,140 tons and has a crew of 73.
Origin 🇨🇳 Ex-USSR
Category Submarine
Type Nuclear attack submarine
Manufacturer Komsomolsk-on-Amur
Year introduced 1984
Number built 15 units
Estimated unit price $1,550 million
Russian attack submarine, introduced in 1980, uses diesel-electric propulsion.
Origin 🇷🇺 Russia
Category Submarine
Type Attack submarine
Manufacturer Rubin Design Bureau
Year introduced 1980
Number built 75 units
Estimated unit price $200 million
Displacement 8,140 tons
Maximum speed 10.0 knots
Range Unlimited
Length 110.3 m
Beam 13.6 m
Crew 73
Max depth 600 m
Propulsion one 190 MW OK-650B/OK-650M pressurized water nuclear reactor, 1 OK-7 steam turbine 43,000 hp (32 MW), 2 OK-2 Turbo generators producing 2 MW, 1 seven-bladed propeller, 2 OK-300 retractable electric propulsors
Armament
  • 4 x 533 mm torpedo tubes (28 torpedoes)
  • 4 x 650 mm torpedo tubes (12 torpedoes)
  • 1–3 x Igla-M surface-to-air missile launcher
  • Granat cruise missiles
  • Kalibr cruise missiles
  • Type 53 torpedoes
  • RPK-2 missile
  • RPK-6 missile
  • Type 65 torpedoes
  • RPK-7 missile
  • Naval mines
Displacement 2,325 tons
Maximum speed 12.0 knots
Range 7,500 nm at 7 knots
Length 72.6 m
Beam 9.9 m
Crew 52
Max depth 300 m
Propulsion Diesel-electric propulsion; 2 × 1000 kW diesel generators; 1 × 5,500–6,800 shp (4,100–5,100 kW) propulsion motor; 1 × fixed-pitch 6-bladed or 7-bladed propeller
Armament
  • 6 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes
  • 18 torpedoes
  • 4 Kalibr/Club land-attack cruise missile, anti-ship missile and anti-submarine missile (some versions)
  • 24 mines
  • 8 9K34 Strela-3 (SA-N-8 Gremlin) or 8 9K310 Igla-1 (SA-N-10 Gimlet) surface-to-air missiles

Performance Radar Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Akula-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Akula-class has greater displacement at 8,140 tons compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 2,325 tons.
Which is faster, the Akula-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Improved Kilo-class is faster with a maximum speed of 12 knots compared to the Akula-class's 10 knots.
Which has longer range, the Akula-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Akula-class is nuclear-powered with unlimited range, while the Improved Kilo-class has a range of 7,500 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Akula-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Akula-class is longer at 110.3 meters compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 72.6 meters.
How many crew members do the Akula-class and Improved Kilo-class have?
The Akula-class has a larger crew complement of 73 compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 52 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Akula-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Akula-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 600 meters compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 300 meters.
Which is more expensive, the Akula-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Akula-class is more expensive at approximately $1.6 billion per unit compared to the Improved Kilo-class at $200 million.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Akula-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Improved Kilo-class has been built in greater numbers with 75 vessels compared to 15 vessels of the Akula-class.