Improved Kilo vs Victor III

The Improved Kilo and the Victor III are both Submarine classes. The Victor III displaces 6,990 tons — 3.0x the Improved Kilo's 2,325 tons. The Improved Kilo reaches 12 knots vs 14 knots for the Victor III. Operational range is 7,500 nautical miles for the Improved Kilo vs 99,999 for the Victor III. The Improved Kilo carries a crew of 52 vs 100 for the Victor III. Submerged displacement is 3,075 tons for the Improved Kilo vs 7,250 tons for the Victor III. The Victor III can dive to 400 m compared to 300 m for the Improved Kilo. The Improved Kilo was produced in 75 units vs 48 for the Victor III. The Improved Kilo was commissioned in 1980, 13 years after the Victor III (1967).

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
Ex-USSR nuclear attack submarine, introduced in 1967, reached 32 knots and had a 100-man crew.
Origin 🇨🇳 Ex-USSR
Category Submarine
Type Nuclear attack submarine
Manufacturer Sudomekh Shipyard
Year introduced 1967
Number built 48 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 6,990 tons
Maximum speed 14.0 knots
Range Unlimited
Length 107.1 m
Beam 10.0 m
Crew 100
Max depth 400 m
Propulsion One VM-4P pressurized-water twin nuclear reactor (2x75 MW), 2 sets OK-300 steam turbines; 1 7-bladed or 2 4-bladed props; 31,000 shp (23,000 kW) at 290 shaft rpm
Armament
  • 2 bow torpedo tubes, 650 mm (6 weapons – Type 88R / SS-N-16 Stallion ASW missiles, Type 65-76 torpedoes)
  • 4 bow torpedo tubes, 533 mm (18 weapons – Type 83RN / Type 53-65K / USET-80 torpedoes, Type 84RN / SS-N-15 Starfish ASW missiles, VA-111 Shkval rocket torpedoes, MG-74 Korund and Siren decoys, or up to 36 naval mines)

Performance Radar Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Improved Kilo-class or Victor III-class?
The Victor III-class has greater displacement at 6,990 tons compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 2,325 tons.
Which is faster, the Improved Kilo-class or Victor III-class?
The Victor III-class is faster with a maximum speed of 14 knots compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 12 knots.
Which has longer range, the Improved Kilo-class or Victor III-class?
The Victor III-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 Victor III-class?
The Victor III-class is longer at 107.1 meters compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 72.6 meters.
How many crew members do the Improved Kilo-class and Victor III-class have?
The Victor III-class has a larger crew complement of 100 compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 52 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Improved Kilo-class or Victor III-class?
The Victor III-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 Victor III-class?
The Improved Kilo-class has been built in greater numbers with 75 vessels compared to 48 vessels of the Victor III-class.