Astute vs Type 209

The Astute and the Type 209 are both Submarine classes. The Astute displaces 7,400 tons — 5.8x the Type 209's 1,285 tons. The Astute reaches 10 knots vs 11 knots for the Type 209. Operational range is 99,999 nautical miles for the Astute vs 11,000 for the Type 209. The Astute carries a crew of 98 vs 36 for the Type 209. Submerged displacement is 7,800 tons for the Astute vs 1,810 tons for the Type 209. The Type 209 can dive to 500 m compared to 300 m for the Astute. The Astute was produced in 6 units vs 68 for the Type 209. Cost per hull is $2,112M for the Astute vs $285M for the Type 209. The Astute was commissioned in 2010, 39 years after the Type 209 (1971).

British nuclear-powered submarine, 7,400 tons displacement, entered service in 2010.
Origin 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Category Submarine
Type Nuclear-powered attack submarine
Manufacturer BAE Systems Submarines
Year introduced 2010
Number built 6 units
Estimated unit price $2,112 million
German diesel-electric submarine, introduced in 1971, displaces 1,285 tons.
Origin 🇩🇪 Germany
Category Submarine
Type Diesel-electric attack submarines
Manufacturer Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft
Year introduced 1971
Number built 68 units
Estimated unit price $285 million
Displacement 7,400 tons
Maximum speed 10.0 knots
Range Unlimited
Length 97.0 m
Beam 11.3 m
Crew 98
Max depth 300 m
Propulsion 1 × Rolls-Royce PWR2 nuclear reactor; MTU 600 kilowatt diesel generators
Armament
  • 6 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
  • Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles
  • Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes
Displacement 1,285 tons
Maximum speed 11.0 knots
Range 11,000 nm at 10 knots
Length 64.4 m
Beam 6.5 m
Crew 36
Max depth 500 m
Propulsion Diesel-electric, 4 diesels, 1 shaft, 6,100 shp (4,500 kW)
Armament
  • 8 x 533 mm torpedo tubes
  • 14 torpedoes
  • UGM-84 Harpoon missiles
  • SeaHake mod 4 torpedoes
  • SUT torpedoes
  • SST torpedoes
  • Mark 24 Tigerfish torpedoes
  • DM2A3 torpedoes
  • Blackshark torpedoes
  • A184 mod. 3 torpedoes
  • DM2A4 torpedoes
  • Mark 37 torpedoes
  • Mark 48 torpedoes
  • Mines

Performance Radar Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Astute-class or Type 209-class?
The Astute-class has greater displacement at 7,400 tons compared to the Type 209-class's 1,285 tons.
Which is faster, the Astute-class or Type 209-class?
The Type 209-class is faster with a maximum speed of 11 knots compared to the Astute-class's 10 knots.
Which has longer range, the Astute-class or Type 209-class?
The Astute-class is nuclear-powered with unlimited range, while the Type 209-class has a range of 11,000 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Astute-class or Type 209-class?
The Astute-class is longer at 97.0 meters compared to the Type 209-class's 64.4 meters.
How many crew members do the Astute-class and Type 209-class have?
The Astute-class has a larger crew complement of 98 compared to the Type 209-class's 36 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Astute-class or Type 209-class?
The Type 209-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 500 meters compared to the Astute-class's 300 meters.
Which is more expensive, the Astute-class or Type 209-class?
The Astute-class is more expensive at approximately $2.1 billion per unit compared to the Type 209-class at $285 million.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Astute-class or Type 209-class?
The Type 209-class has been built in greater numbers with 68 vessels compared to 6 vessels of the Astute-class.