Akula vs Kilo

The Akula and the Kilo are both Submarine classes. The Akula displaces 8,140 tons — 3.5x the Kilo's 2,325 tons. The Akula reaches 10 knots vs 17 knots for the Kilo. Operational range is 99,999 nautical miles for the Akula vs 6,000 for the Kilo. The Akula carries a crew of 73 vs 52 for the Kilo. Submerged displacement is 12,770 tons for the Akula vs 3,075 tons for the Kilo. The Akula can dive to 600 m compared to 300 m for the Kilo. The Akula was produced in 15 units vs 75 for the Kilo. Cost per hull is $1,550M for the Akula vs $200M for the Kilo. The Akula was commissioned in 1984, 4 years after the Kilo (1980).

Soviet nuclear attack submarine, introduced in 1984, displaces 8,140 tons and has a crew of 73.
Profile of Akula
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
Ex-USSR Kilo submarine, introduced in 1980, utilizes diesel-electric propulsion.
Profile of Kilo
Origin 🇨🇳 Ex-USSR
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 17.0 knots
Range 6,000 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 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
  • 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 Kilo-class?
The Akula-class has greater displacement at 8,140 tons compared to the Kilo-class's 2,325 tons.
Which is faster, the Akula-class or Kilo-class?
The Kilo-class is faster with a maximum speed of 17 knots compared to the Akula-class's 10 knots.
Which has longer range, the Akula-class or Kilo-class?
The Akula-class is nuclear-powered with unlimited range, while the Kilo-class has a range of 6,000 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Akula-class or Kilo-class?
The Akula-class is longer at 110.3 meters compared to the Kilo-class's 72.6 meters.
How many crew members do the Akula-class and Kilo-class have?
The Akula-class has a larger crew complement of 73 compared to the Kilo-class's 52 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Akula-class or Kilo-class?
The Akula-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 600 meters compared to the Kilo-class's 300 meters.
Which is more expensive, the Akula-class or Kilo-class?
The Akula-class is more expensive at approximately $1.6 billion per unit compared to the Kilo-class at $200 million.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Akula-class or Kilo-class?
The Kilo-class has been built in greater numbers with 75 vessels compared to 15 vessels of the Akula-class.