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Astute vs Scorpène

Astute submarine side profile drawing
🇬🇧 Astute
Scorpène submarine side profile drawing
🇫🇷 Scorpène
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Specifications
Astute Scorpène
Origin 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇫🇷 France
Category Submarine Submarine
Type Nuclear-powered attack submarine Diesel-electric attack submarine
Manufacturer BAE Systems Submarines Naval Group
Year introduced 2010 2005
Number built 6 units 14 units
Estimated unit price $2,112 million $450 million
Displacement 7,400 tons 1,565 tons
Maximum speed 10.0 knots 12.0 knots
Range Unlimited 6,500 nm at 8 knots
Length 97.0 m 61.7 m
Beam 11.3 m 6.2 m
Crew 98 31
Max depth 300 m 350 m
Performance Radar Chart
Armament & Systems
Astute Scorpène
Armament
  • 6 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
  • Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles
  • Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes
  • 6 x 533 mm torpedo tubes
  • 18 Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei Black Shark heavyweight torpedoes
  • SM-39 Exocet anti-ship missiles
  • A3SM (MICA) anti-air missiles
  • 30 mines
Propulsion 1 × Rolls-Royce PWR2 nuclear reactor; MTU 600 kilowatt diesel generators Diesel-electric, Batteries, Air-independent propulsion (AIP), MESMA AIP, DRDO PAFC Fuel Cell AIP

Overview

The Astute and the Scorpène are both Submarine classes.

The Astute displaces 7,400 tons — 4.7x the Scorpène's 1,565 tons. The Astute reaches 10 knots vs 12 knots for the Scorpène. Operational range is 99,999 nautical miles for the Astute vs 6,500 for the Scorpène. The Astute carries a crew of 98 vs 31 for the Scorpène. Submerged displacement is 7,800 tons for the Astute vs 1,900 tons for the Scorpène. The Scorpène can dive to 350 m compared to 300 m for the Astute.

The Astute was produced in 6 units vs 14 for the Scorpène. Cost per hull is $2,112M for the Astute vs $450M for the Scorpène. The Astute was commissioned in 2010, 5 years after the Scorpène (2005).

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Astute-class or Scorpène-class?
The Astute-class has greater displacement at 7,400 tons compared to the Scorpène-class's 1,565 tons.
Which is faster, the Astute-class or Scorpène-class?
The Scorpène-class is faster with a maximum speed of 12 knots compared to the Astute-class's 10 knots.
Which has longer range, the Astute-class or Scorpène-class?
The Astute-class is nuclear-powered with unlimited range, while the Scorpène-class has a range of 6,500 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Astute-class or Scorpène-class?
The Astute-class is longer at 97.0 meters compared to the Scorpène-class's 61.7 meters.
How many crew members do the Astute-class and Scorpène-class have?
The Astute-class has a larger crew complement of 98 compared to the Scorpène-class's 31 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Astute-class or Scorpène-class?
The Scorpène-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 Scorpène-class?
The Astute-class is more expensive at approximately $2.1 billion per unit compared to the Scorpène-class at $450 million.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Astute-class or Scorpène-class?
The Scorpène-class has been built in greater numbers with 14 vessels compared to 6 vessels of the Astute-class.