Improved Kilo vs Le Triomphant

The Improved Kilo and the Le Triomphant are both Submarine classes. The Le Triomphant displaces 12,640 tons — 5.4x the Improved Kilo's 2,325 tons. The Improved Kilo reaches 12 knots vs 15 knots for the Le Triomphant. Operational range is 7,500 nautical miles for the Improved Kilo vs 99,999 for the Le Triomphant. The Improved Kilo carries a crew of 52 vs 111 for the Le Triomphant. Submerged displacement is 3,075 tons for the Improved Kilo vs 14,335 tons for the Le Triomphant. The Le Triomphant can dive to 400 m compared to 300 m for the Improved Kilo. The Improved Kilo was produced in 75 units vs 4 for the Le Triomphant. Cost per hull is $200M for the Improved Kilo vs $3,100M for the Le Triomphant. The Improved Kilo was commissioned in 1980, 17 years before the Le Triomphant (1997).

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
French ballistic missile submarine, introduced in 1997, displaces 12,640 tons and carries nuclear missiles.
Origin 🇫🇷 France
Category Submarine
Type Ballistic missile submarine
Manufacturer DCNS
Year introduced 1997
Number built 4 units
Estimated unit price $3,100 million
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 12,640 tons
Maximum speed 15.0 knots
Range Unlimited
Length 138.0 m
Beam 12.5 m
Crew 111
Max depth 400 m
Propulsion K15 pressurized water reactor 150 MWth with turboreductor pump-to-shaft system of 30,5 MW; two emergency diesel-powered generators SEMT Pielstick 8PA4V200 SM (700 kW (940 hp)) auxiliaries
Armament
  • 16 M45 or M51/51.3 missiles with six to ten TN 75 or TNO thermonuclear warheads
  • Four 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes for F17 torpedoes and Exocet SM39 anti-ship missiles

Performance Radar Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Improved Kilo-class or Le Triomphant-class?
The Le Triomphant-class has greater displacement at 12,640 tons compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 2,325 tons.
Which is faster, the Improved Kilo-class or Le Triomphant-class?
The Le Triomphant-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 Triomphant-class?
The Le Triomphant-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 Triomphant-class?
The Le Triomphant-class is longer at 138.0 meters compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 72.6 meters.
How many crew members do the Improved Kilo-class and Le Triomphant-class have?
The Le Triomphant-class has a larger crew complement of 111 compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 52 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Improved Kilo-class or Le Triomphant-class?
The Le Triomphant-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 400 meters compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 300 meters.
Which is more expensive, the Improved Kilo-class or Le Triomphant-class?
The Le Triomphant-class is more expensive at approximately $3.1 billion per unit compared to the Improved Kilo-class at $200 million.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Improved Kilo-class or Le Triomphant-class?
The Improved Kilo-class has been built in greater numbers with 75 vessels compared to 4 vessels of the Le Triomphant-class.