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Improved Kilo vs Papa

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🇷🇺 Papa
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Specifications
Improved Kilo Papa
Origin 🇷🇺 Russia 🇷🇺 Ex-USSR
Category Submarine Submarine
Type Attack submarine Nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine
Manufacturer Rubin Design Bureau Sevmash
Year introduced 1980 1970
Number built 75 units 1 unit
Estimated unit price $200 million NA
Displacement 2,325 tons 5,197 tons
Maximum speed 12.0 knots 25.0 knots
Range 7,500 nm at 7 knots Unlimited
Length 72.6 m 106.9 m
Beam 9.9 m 11.5 m
Crew 52 82
Max depth 300 m 400 m
Performance Radar Chart
Armament & Systems
Improved Kilo Papa
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
  • 10 × SS-N-7 Starbright (P-70) cruise missiles
  • 4 × 533 mm (21 in) bow torpedo tubes
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 2 × VM-5 nuclear reactors; 2 × shafts; 2 × steam turbines producing 80,000 PS (59,000 kW)

Overview

The Improved Kilo and the Papa are both Submarine classes.

The Papa displaces 5,197 tons — 2.2x the Improved Kilo's 2,325 tons. The Improved Kilo reaches 12 knots vs 25 knots for the Papa. Operational range is 7,500 nautical miles for the Improved Kilo vs 99,999 for the Papa. The Improved Kilo carries a crew of 52 vs 82 for the Papa. Submerged displacement is 3,075 tons for the Improved Kilo vs 7,000 tons for the Papa. The Papa can dive to 400 m compared to 300 m for the Improved Kilo.

The Improved Kilo was produced in 75 units vs 1 for the Papa. The Improved Kilo was commissioned in 1980, 10 years after the Papa (1970).

Related Comparisons
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Improved Kilo-class or Papa-class?
The Papa-class has greater displacement at 5,197 tons compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 2,325 tons.
Which is faster, the Improved Kilo-class or Papa-class?
The Papa-class is faster with a maximum speed of 25 knots compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 12 knots.
Which has longer range, the Improved Kilo-class or Papa-class?
The Papa-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 Papa-class?
The Papa-class is longer at 106.9 meters compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 72.6 meters.
How many crew members do the Improved Kilo-class and Papa-class have?
The Papa-class has a larger crew complement of 82 compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 52 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Improved Kilo-class or Papa-class?
The Papa-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 Improved Kilo-class or Papa-class?
The Improved Kilo-class has been built in greater numbers with 75 vessels compared to 1 vessels of the Papa-class.