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Dolphin vs Kilo

Dolphin vs Kilo at a glance — displacement 1,640 vs 2,325 tons, length 57 vs 72 m, speed 11 vs 17 knots, crew 45 vs 52.

Dolphin submarine side profile drawing
🇮🇱 Dolphin
Kilo submarine side profile drawing
🇷🇺 Kilo
Specifications
Dolphin Kilo
Origin 🇮🇱 Israel 🇷🇺 Ex-USSR
Category Submarine Submarine
Type Diesel-electric submarine Attack submarine
Manufacturer Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft Rubin Design Bureau
Year introduced 1999 1980
Number built 6 units 75 units
Estimated unit price $1,000 million $200 million
Displacement 1,640 tons 2,325 tons
Maximum speed 11.0 knots 17.0 knots
Range 8,000 nm at 8 knots 6,000 nm at 7 knots
Length 57.3 m 72.6 m
Beam 6.8 m 9.9 m
Crew 45 52
Max depth 350 m 300 m
Performance Radar Chart
Armament & Systems
Dolphin Kilo
Armament
  • 6 × 533 mm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes
  • 4 × 650 mm (26 in) diameter torpedo tubes
  • 16 torpedoes and Popeye Turbo submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCMs)
  • 6 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes
  • 18 torpedoes
  • 4 Kalibr/Club land-attack cruise missile, anti-ship missile and anti-submarine missile
  • 24 mines
  • 8 9K34 Strela-3 (SA-N-8 Gremlin) or 8 9K310 Igla-1 (SA-N-10 Gimlet) surface-to-air missiles
Propulsion Diesel-electric, 3 diesels, 1 shaft, 4,243 shp (3,164 kW); Dolphin 2 class: air-independent HDW Fuel Cell System Diesel-electric propulsion, 2 × 1000 kW diesel generators, 1 × 5,500–6,800 shp propulsion motor, 1 × fixed-pitch 6-bladed or 7-bladed propeller
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Dolphin-class or Kilo-class?
The Kilo-class has greater displacement at 2,325 tons compared to the Dolphin-class's 1,640 tons.
Which is faster, the Dolphin-class or Kilo-class?
The Kilo-class is faster with a maximum speed of 17 knots compared to the Dolphin-class's 11 knots.
Which has longer range, the Dolphin-class or Kilo-class?
The Dolphin-class has a longer range at 8,000 nautical miles compared to the Kilo-class's 6,000 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Dolphin-class or Kilo-class?
The Kilo-class is longer at 72.6 meters compared to the Dolphin-class's 57.3 meters.
How many crew members do the Dolphin-class and Kilo-class have?
The Kilo-class has a larger crew complement of 52 compared to the Dolphin-class's 45 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Dolphin-class or Kilo-class?
The Dolphin-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 350 meters compared to the Kilo-class's 300 meters.
Which is more expensive, the Dolphin-class or Kilo-class?
The Dolphin-class is more expensive at approximately $1 billion per unit compared to the Kilo-class at $200 million.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Dolphin-class or Kilo-class?
The Kilo-class has been built in greater numbers with 75 vessels compared to 6 vessels of the Dolphin-class.