Charlie vs Improved Kilo

The Charlie and the Improved Kilo are both Submarine classes. Displacement is 4,000 tons for the Charlie vs 2,325 tons for the Improved Kilo. The Charlie reaches 20 knots vs 12 knots for the Improved Kilo. Operational range is 99,999 nautical miles for the Charlie vs 7,500 for the Improved Kilo. The Charlie carries a crew of 100 vs 52 for the Improved Kilo. Submerged displacement is 4,900 tons for the Charlie vs 3,075 tons for the Improved Kilo. The Charlie can dive to 400 m compared to 300 m for the Improved Kilo. The Charlie was produced in 17 units vs 75 for the Improved Kilo. The Charlie was commissioned in 1967, 13 years before the Improved Kilo (1980).

Soviet nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine, introduced in 1967, utilized a pressurized water reactor for propulsion.
Origin 🇨🇳 Ex-USSR
Category Submarine
Type Nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine
Manufacturer Krasnoye Sormovo inland shipyard
Year introduced 1967
Number built 17 units
Estimated unit price NA
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 4,000 tons â—‰
Maximum speed 20.0 knots â—‰
Range Unlimited â—‰
Length 95.0 m â—‰
Beam 10.0 m â—‰
Crew 100 â—‰
Max depth 400 m â—‰
Propulsion 1 pressurized water-cooled reactor powering 2 steam turbines delivering 11,185 kW (14,999 shp) to 1 shaft
Armament
  • 6 x 533 mm (21 in) tubes
  • 12 torpedoes
  • 8 x P-70 Ametist anti-ship missiles (Charlie I)
  • 8 x P-120 Malakhit anti-ship missiles (Charlie II)
  • 24 AMD-1000 ground mines
Displacement 2,325 tons â—‰
Maximum speed 12.0 knots â—‰
Range 7,500 nm at 7 knots â—‰
Length 72.6 m â—‰
Beam 9.9 m â—‰
Crew 52 â—‰
Max depth 300 m â—‰
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 Charlie-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Charlie-class has greater displacement at 4,000 tons compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 2,325 tons.
Which is faster, the Charlie-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Charlie-class is faster with a maximum speed of 20 knots compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 12 knots.
Which has longer range, the Charlie-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Charlie-class is nuclear-powered with unlimited range, while the Improved Kilo-class has a range of 7,500 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Charlie-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Charlie-class is longer at 95.0 meters compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 72.6 meters.
How many crew members do the Charlie-class and Improved Kilo-class have?
The Charlie-class has a larger crew complement of 100 compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 52 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Charlie-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Charlie-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 400 meters compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 300 meters.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Charlie-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Improved Kilo-class has been built in greater numbers with 75 vessels compared to 17 vessels of the Charlie-class.