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Head-to-head

Astute vs Barracuda

Astute submarine side profile drawing
🇬🇧 Astute
Barracuda submarine side profile drawing
🇫🇷 Barracuda
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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

Overview

The Astute and the Barracuda are both Submarine classes.

Displacement is 7,400 tons for the Astute vs 4,765 tons for the Barracuda. The Astute reaches 10 knots vs 14 knots for the Barracuda. Operational range is 99,999 nautical miles for the Astute vs 99,999 for the Barracuda. The Astute carries a crew of 98 vs 60 for the Barracuda. Submerged displacement is 7,800 tons for the Astute vs 5,300 tons for the Barracuda. The Barracuda can dive to 350 m compared to 300 m for the Astute.

The Astute was produced in 6 units vs 4 for the Barracuda. Cost per hull is $2,112M for the Astute vs $1,730M for the Barracuda. The Astute was commissioned in 2010, 10 years before the Barracuda (2020).

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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.