Improved Kilo vs Virginia

Overview

The Improved Kilo and the Virginia are both Submarine classes.

The Virginia displaces 6,930 tons — 3.0x the Improved Kilo's 2,325 tons. The Improved Kilo reaches 12 knots vs 15 knots for the Virginia. Operational range is 7,500 nautical miles for the Improved Kilo vs 99,999 for the Virginia. The Improved Kilo carries a crew of 52 vs 135 for the Virginia. Submerged displacement is 3,075 tons for the Improved Kilo vs 7,900 tons for the Virginia. The Improved Kilo can dive to 300 m compared to 240 m for the Virginia.

The Improved Kilo was produced in 75 units vs 26 for the Virginia. Cost per hull is $200M for the Improved Kilo vs $2,800M for the Virginia. The Improved Kilo was commissioned in 1980, 24 years before the Virginia (2004).

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

Virginia

United States submarine, introduced in 2004, utilizes a pump-jet propulsor.
Origin 🇺🇸 United States
Category Submarine
Type Nuclear-powered attack submarine
Manufacturer General Dynamics Electric Boat
Year introduced 2004
Number built 26 units
Estimated unit price $2,800 million
View full Virginia 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

Virginia

Displacement 6,930 tons ◉
Maximum speed 15.0 knots ◉
Range Unlimited ◉
Length 115.0 m ◉
Beam 10.0 m ◉
Crew 135 ◉
Max depth 240 m ◉
Propulsion 1 × S9G nuclear reactor 280,000 hp (210 MW); 2 × steam turbines 40,000 shp (30 MW); 1 × single shaft pump-jet propulsor; 1 × secondary propulsion motor
Armament
  • 12 x VLS tubes (Tomahawk cruise missiles)
  • 2 x Virginia payload tubes (12 x Tomahawk BGM-109)
  • 4 x Virginia payload modules (28 x Tomahawk BGM-109)
  • 4 x 21" torpedo tubes (Mk-48 torpedoes or UGM-84 Harpoon missiles)

Performance Radar Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Improved Kilo-class or Virginia-class?
The Virginia-class has greater displacement at 6,930 tons compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 2,325 tons.
Which is faster, the Improved Kilo-class or Virginia-class?
The Virginia-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 Virginia-class?
The Virginia-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 Virginia-class?
The Virginia-class is longer at 115.0 meters compared to the Improved Kilo-class's 72.6 meters.
How many crew members do the Improved Kilo-class and Virginia-class have?
The Virginia-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 Virginia-class?
The Improved Kilo-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 300 meters compared to the Virginia-class's 240 meters.
Which is more expensive, the Improved Kilo-class or Virginia-class?
The Virginia-class is more expensive at approximately $2.8 billion per unit compared to the Improved Kilo-class at $200 million.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Improved Kilo-class or Virginia-class?
The Improved Kilo-class has been built in greater numbers with 75 vessels compared to 26 vessels of the Virginia-class.

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