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Astute vs Barracuda

Astute vs Barracuda at a glance — displacement 7,400 vs 4,765 tons, length 97 vs 99 m, speed 10 vs 14 knots, crew 98 vs 60.

Astute submarine side profile drawing
🇬🇧 Astute
Barracuda submarine side profile drawing
🇫🇷 Barracuda
Specifications
Astute Barracuda
Origin 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇫🇷 France
Category Submarine Submarine
Type Nuclear-powered attack submarine Nuclear-powered attack submarine
Manufacturer BAE Systems Submarines Naval Group (reactor by TechnicAtome)
Year introduced 2010 2020
Number built 6 units 4 units
Estimated unit price $2,112 million $1,730 million
Displacement 7,400 tons 4,765 tons
Maximum speed 10.0 knots 14.0 knots
Range Unlimited Unlimited
Length 97.0 m 99.5 m
Beam 11.3 m 8.8 m
Crew 98 60
Max depth 300 m 350 m
Performance Radar Chart
Armament & Systems
Astute Barracuda
Armament
  • 6 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
  • Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles
  • Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes

4 x 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes with 20 reloads for: F21 Artemis heavyweight torpedoes, MdCN land-attack cruise missiles (range over 1,000 km), Exocet SM39 Mod2 anti-ship missiles, and FG29 multi-influence mines. Can embark up to 15 special-forces commandos via a removable dry deck shelter with the PSM3G swimmer delivery vehicle.
Propulsion 1 × Rolls-Royce PWR2 nuclear reactor; MTU 600 kilowatt diesel generators 1 x K15 pressurised-water reactor, 150 MW; 2 turbo-generators; pump-jet propulsion
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Astute-class or Barracuda-class?
The Astute-class has greater displacement at 7,400 tons compared to the Barracuda-class's 4,765 tons.
Which is faster, the Astute-class or Barracuda-class?
The Barracuda-class is faster with a maximum speed of 14 knots compared to the Astute-class's 10 knots.
Which has longer range, the Astute-class or Barracuda-class?
Both the Astute-class and Barracuda-class are nuclear-powered and have unlimited range, limited only by food supplies and crew endurance.
Which is longer, the Astute-class or Barracuda-class?
The Barracuda-class is longer at 99.5 meters compared to the Astute-class's 97.0 meters.
How many crew members do the Astute-class and Barracuda-class have?
The Astute-class has a larger crew complement of 98 compared to the Barracuda-class's 60 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Astute-class or Barracuda-class?
The Barracuda-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 350 meters compared to the Astute-class's 300 meters.
Which is more expensive, the Astute-class or Barracuda-class?
The Astute-class is more expensive at approximately $2.1 billion per unit compared to the Barracuda-class at $1.7 billion.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Astute-class or Barracuda-class?
The Astute-class has been built in greater numbers with 6 vessels compared to 4 vessels of the Barracuda-class.