Improved Kilo vs Sierra

The Improved Kilo and the Sierra are both Submarine classes. The Sierra displaces 7,200 tons — 3.1x the Improved Kilo's 2,325 tons. The Improved Kilo reaches 12 knots vs 10 knots for the Sierra. Operational range is 7,500 nautical miles for the Improved Kilo vs 99,999 for the Sierra. The Improved Kilo carries a crew of 52 vs 61 for the Sierra. Submerged displacement is 3,075 tons for the Improved Kilo vs 8,300 tons for the Sierra. The Sierra can dive to 600 m compared to 300 m for the Improved Kilo. The Improved Kilo was produced in 75 units vs 4 for the Sierra. The Improved Kilo was commissioned in 1980, 4 years before the Sierra (1984).

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
Soviet nuclear attack submarine, introduced in 1984, has a displacement of 7,200 tons.
Origin 🇨🇳 Ex-USSR
Category Submarine
Type Nuclear attack submarine
Manufacturer Krasnoye Sormovo
Year introduced 1984
Number built 4 units
Estimated unit price NA
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
Displacement 7,200 tons
Maximum speed 10.0 knots
Range Unlimited
Length 107.2 m
Beam 12.3 m
Crew 61
Max depth 600 m
Propulsion 1 × PWR, 190 MW (HEU <= 45%), 2 × 1,002 hp (747 kW) emergency motors, 1 shaft, 2 spinners
Armament
  • 4 × 650 mm (26 in) torpedo tubes (only Sierra I)
  • 4 × 530 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes (6 x Sierra II)
  • SS-N-21 Sampson SLCM
  • SS-N-15 Starfish anti-submarine weapon
  • SS-N-16 Stallion
  • 42 mines (instead of torpedoes)

Performance Radar Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Improved Kilo-class or Sierra-class?
The Sierra-class has greater displacement at 7,200 tons compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 2,325 tons.
Which is faster, the Improved Kilo-class or Sierra-class?
The Improved Kilo-class is faster with a maximum speed of 12 knots compared to the Sierra-class's 10 knots.
Which has longer range, the Improved Kilo-class or Sierra-class?
The Sierra-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 Sierra-class?
The Sierra-class is longer at 107.2 meters compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 72.6 meters.
How many crew members do the Improved Kilo-class and Sierra-class have?
The Sierra-class has a larger crew complement of 61 compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 52 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Improved Kilo-class or Sierra-class?
The Sierra-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 600 meters compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 300 meters.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Improved Kilo-class or Sierra-class?
The Improved Kilo-class has been built in greater numbers with 75 vessels compared to 4 vessels of the Sierra-class.