Delta III vs Improved Kilo

Overview

The Delta III and the Improved Kilo are both Submarine classes.

The Delta III displaces 7,800 tons — 3.4x the Improved Kilo's 2,325 tons. The Delta III reaches 12 knots vs 12 knots for the Improved Kilo. Operational range is 99,999 nautical miles for the Delta III vs 7,500 for the Improved Kilo. The Delta III carries a crew of 120 vs 52 for the Improved Kilo. Submerged displacement is 10,000 tons for the Delta III vs 3,075 tons for the Improved Kilo. The Delta III can dive to 320 m compared to 300 m for the Improved Kilo.

The Delta III was produced in 18 units vs 75 for the Improved Kilo. The Delta III was commissioned in 1972, 8 years before the Improved Kilo (1980).

Delta III

Soviet ballistic missile submarine, 7,800 tons displacement, powered by two nuclear reactors.
Origin 🇨🇳 Ex-USSR
Category Submarine
Type Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine
Manufacturer Komsomolsk-on-Amur
Year introduced 1972
Number built 18 units
Estimated unit price NA
View full Delta III details

Improved Kilo

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
View full Improved Kilo details

Delta III

Displacement 7,800 tons ◉
Maximum speed 12.0 knots ◉
Range Unlimited ◉
Length 139.0 m ◉
Beam 12.0 m ◉
Crew 120 ◉
Max depth 320 m ◉
Propulsion 2 pressurized water-cooled reactors powering 2 steam turbines driving 2 shafts and each developing 38.7 MW (51,900 shp)
Armament
  • D-9 launch tubes for 12 R-29 (SS-N-8 Sawfly) SLBMs
  • 4 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes
  • 2 × 400 mm (16 in) torpedo tubes

Improved Kilo

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 Delta III-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Delta III-class has greater displacement at 7,800 tons compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 2,325 tons.
Which is faster, the Delta III-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Improved Kilo-class is faster with a maximum speed of 12 knots compared to the Delta III-class's 12 knots.
Which has longer range, the Delta III-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Delta III-class is nuclear-powered with unlimited range, while the Improved Kilo-class has a range of 7,500 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Delta III-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Delta III-class is longer at 139.0 meters compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 72.6 meters.
How many crew members do the Delta III-class and Improved Kilo-class have?
The Delta III-class has a larger crew complement of 120 compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 52 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Delta III-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Delta III-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 320 meters compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 300 meters.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Delta III-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Improved Kilo-class has been built in greater numbers with 75 vessels compared to 18 vessels of the Delta III-class.

Related Comparisons

Delta III vs Whiskey Delta III vs Romeo Delta III vs Foxtrot Delta III vs Kilo Delta III vs Type 209 Delta III vs Los Angeles
2025 GlobalMilitary.net • About • Privacy • Terms • Dark theme