Delta IV vs Improved Kilo

The Delta IV and the Improved Kilo are both Submarine classes. The Delta IV displaces 7,800 tons — 3.4x the Improved Kilo's 2,325 tons. The Delta IV reaches 12 knots vs 12 knots for the Improved Kilo. Operational range is 99,999 nautical miles for the Delta IV vs 7,500 for the Improved Kilo. The Delta IV carries a crew of 120 vs 52 for the Improved Kilo. Submerged displacement is 10,000 tons for the Delta IV vs 3,075 tons for the Improved Kilo. The Delta IV can dive to 400 m compared to 300 m for the Improved Kilo. The Delta IV was produced in 18 units vs 75 for the Improved Kilo. The Delta IV was commissioned in 1972, 8 years before the Improved Kilo (1980).

Ex-USSR submarine, 7,800 tons displacement, propelled by two pressurized water-cooled 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
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 7,800 tons
Maximum speed 12.0 knots
Range Unlimited
Length 139.0 m
Beam 12.0 m
Crew 120
Max depth 400 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
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 IV-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Delta IV-class has greater displacement at 7,800 tons compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 2,325 tons.
Which is faster, the Delta IV-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Improved Kilo-class is faster with a maximum speed of 12 knots compared to the Delta IV-class's 12 knots.
Which has longer range, the Delta IV-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Delta IV-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 IV-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Delta IV-class is longer at 139.0 meters compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 72.6 meters.
How many crew members do the Delta IV-class and Improved Kilo-class have?
The Delta IV-class has a larger crew complement of 120 compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 52 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Delta IV-class or Improved Kilo-class?
The Delta IV-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 Delta IV-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 IV-class.