Improved Kilo vs Le Redoutable

Overview

The Improved Kilo and the Le Redoutable are both Submarine classes.

The Le Redoutable displaces 8,000 tons — 3.4x the Improved Kilo's 2,325 tons. The Improved Kilo reaches 12 knots vs 15 knots for the Le Redoutable. Operational range is 7,500 nautical miles for the Improved Kilo vs 99,999 for the Le Redoutable. The Improved Kilo carries a crew of 52 vs 135 for the Le Redoutable. Submerged displacement is 3,075 tons for the Improved Kilo vs 9,000 tons for the Le Redoutable. The Improved Kilo can dive to 300 m compared to 200 m for the Le Redoutable.

The Improved Kilo was produced in 75 units vs 6 for the Le Redoutable. The Improved Kilo was commissioned in 1980, 9 years after the Le Redoutable (1971).

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

Le Redoutable

French ballistic missile submarine, introduced in 1971, displaced 8,000 tons when submerged.
Origin 🇫🇷 France
Category Submarine
Type Ballistic missile submarine
Manufacturer Arsenal de Cherbourg (DCAN)
Year introduced 1971
Number built 6 units
Estimated unit price NA
View full Le Redoutable details

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

Le Redoutable

Displacement 8,000 tons ◉
Maximum speed 15.0 knots ◉
Range Unlimited ◉
Length 128.0 m ◉
Beam 10.6 m ◉
Crew 135 ◉
Max depth 200 m ◉
Propulsion One PWR 16,000 shp (12,000 kW), HEU <= 90%
Armament
  • 16 × M4 MSBS (Mer-Sol Balistique Stratégique) nuclear missiles
  • 4 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes
  • F-17 and L-5 torpedoes
  • SM-39 Exocet anti-ship missile

Performance Radar Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Improved Kilo-class or Le Redoutable-class?
The Le Redoutable-class has greater displacement at 8,000 tons compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 2,325 tons.
Which is faster, the Improved Kilo-class or Le Redoutable-class?
The Le Redoutable-class is faster with a maximum speed of 15 knots compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 12 knots.
Which has longer range, the Improved Kilo-class or Le Redoutable-class?
The Le Redoutable-class is nuclear-powered with unlimited range, while the Improved Kilo-class has a range of 7,500 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Improved Kilo-class or Le Redoutable-class?
The Le Redoutable-class is longer at 128.0 meters compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 72.6 meters.
How many crew members do the Improved Kilo-class and Le Redoutable-class have?
The Le Redoutable-class has a larger crew complement of 135 compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 52 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Improved Kilo-class or Le Redoutable-class?
The Improved Kilo-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 300 meters compared to the Le Redoutable-class's 200 meters.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Improved Kilo-class or Le Redoutable-class?
The Improved Kilo-class has been built in greater numbers with 75 vessels compared to 6 vessels of the Le Redoutable-class.

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