Barracuda vs Improved Kilo

The Barracuda and the Improved Kilo are both Submarine classes. The Barracuda displaces 4,765 tons — 2.0x the Improved Kilo's 2,325 tons. The Barracuda reaches 14 knots vs 12 knots for the Improved Kilo. Operational range is 99,999 nautical miles for the Barracuda vs 7,500 for the Improved Kilo. The Barracuda carries a crew of 60 vs 52 for the Improved Kilo. Submerged displacement is 5,300 tons for the Barracuda vs 3,075 tons for the Improved Kilo. The Barracuda can dive to 350 m compared to 300 m for the Improved Kilo. The Barracuda was produced in 2 units vs 75 for the Improved Kilo. Cost per hull is $1,730M for the Barracuda vs $200M for the Improved Kilo. The Barracuda was commissioned in 2020, 40 years after the Improved Kilo (1980).

French nuclear attack submarine, 4,765 tons displacement, utilizes a 150 MW K15 reactor for propulsion.
Origin 🇫🇷 France
Category Submarine
Type Nuclear attack submarine
Manufacturer Naval Group
Year introduced 2020
Number built 2 units
Estimated unit price $1,730 million
Russian attack submarine, introduced in 1980, uses diesel-electric propulsion.
Origin 🇷🇺 Russia
Category Submarine
Type Attack submarine
Manufacturer Rubin Design Bureau
Year introduced 1980
Number built 75 units
Estimated unit price $200 million
Displacement 4,765 tons
Maximum speed 14.0 knots
Range Unlimited
Length 99.5 m
Beam 8.8 m
Crew 60
Max depth 350 m
Propulsion K15 nuclear reactor, 150 MW (200,000 hp)
Armament

4 533 mm (21.0 in) tubes. 20 storage racks for: MdCN land-attack cruise missiles, Exocet SM39 Mod2 anti-ship missiles, A3SM (VL MICA) surface-to-air missiles, F21 Artemis heavyweight torpedoes, FG29 multi-influence mines

Displacement 2,325 tons
Maximum speed 12.0 knots
Range 7,500 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 (4,100–5,100 kW) 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 (some versions)
  • 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 Barracuda-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Barracuda-class has greater displacement at 4,765 tons compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 2,325 tons.
Which is faster, the Barracuda-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Barracuda-class is faster with a maximum speed of 14 knots compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 12 knots.
Which has longer range, the Barracuda-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Barracuda-class is nuclear-powered with unlimited range, while the Improved Kilo-class has a range of 7,500 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Barracuda-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Barracuda-class is longer at 99.5 meters compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 72.6 meters.
How many crew members do the Barracuda-class and Improved Kilo-class have?
The Barracuda-class has a larger crew complement of 60 compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 52 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Barracuda-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Barracuda-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 350 meters compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 300 meters.
Which is more expensive, the Barracuda-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Barracuda-class is more expensive at approximately $1.7 billion per unit compared to the Improved Kilo-class at $200 million.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Barracuda-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Improved Kilo-class has been built in greater numbers with 75 vessels compared to 2 vessels of the Barracuda-class.