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Akula vs Improved Kilo

Akula vs Improved Kilo at a glance — displacement 8,140 vs 2,325 tons, length 110 vs 72 m, speed 10 vs 12 knots, crew 73 vs 52.

Akula submarine side profile drawing
🇷🇺 Akula
Specifications
Akula Improved Kilo
Origin 🇷🇺 Ex-USSR 🇷🇺 Russia
Category Submarine Submarine
Type Nuclear-powered attack submarine Attack submarine
Manufacturer Komsomolsk-on-Amur Rubin Design Bureau
Year introduced 1984 1980
Number built 15 units 75 units
Estimated unit price $1,550 million $200 million
Displacement 8,140 tons 2,325 tons
Maximum speed 10.0 knots 12.0 knots
Range Unlimited 7,500 nm at 7 knots
Length 110.3 m 72.6 m
Beam 13.6 m 9.9 m
Crew 73 52
Max depth 600 m 300 m
Performance Radar Chart
Armament & Systems
Akula Improved Kilo
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
  • 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
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 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
Change comparison vs
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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.