Kilo vs Lafayette
The Kilo and the Lafayette are both Submarine classes. The Lafayette displaces 7,443 tons — 3.2x the Kilo's 2,325 tons. The Kilo reaches 17 knots vs 16 knots for the Lafayette. Operational range is 6,000 nautical miles for the Kilo vs 99,999 for the Lafayette. The Kilo carries a crew of 52 vs 140 for the Lafayette. Submerged displacement is 3,075 tons for the Kilo vs 8,383 tons for the Lafayette. The Lafayette can dive to 400 m compared to 300 m for the Kilo. The Kilo was produced in 75 units vs 9 for the Lafayette. The Kilo was commissioned in 1980, 17 years after the Lafayette (1963).
| Ex-USSR Kilo submarine, introduced in 1980, utilizes diesel-electric propulsion. | |
| Origin | 🇨🇳 Ex-USSR |
| Category | Submarine |
| Type | Attack submarine |
| Manufacturer | Rubin Design Bureau |
| Year introduced | 1980 |
| Number built | 75 units |
| Estimated unit price | $200 million |
| American submarine, introduced in 1963, displaced 7,443 tons and carried ballistic missiles. | |
| Origin | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Category | Submarine |
| Type | Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine |
| Manufacturer | General Dynamics Electric Boat |
| Year introduced | 1963 |
| Number built | 9 units |
| Estimated unit price | NA |
| Displacement | 2,325 tons ◉ |
| Maximum speed | 17.0 knots ◉ |
| Range | 6,000 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 propulsion motor, 1 × fixed-pitch 6-bladed or 7-bladed propeller |
| Armament |
|
| Displacement | 7,443 tons ◉ |
| Maximum speed | 16.0 knots ◉ |
| Range | Unlimited ◉ |
| Length | 130.0 m ◉ |
| Beam | 10.0 m ◉ |
| Crew | 140 ◉ |
| Max depth | 400 m ◉ |
| Propulsion | 1 × S5W PWR, 2 geared steam turbines (15,000 shp (11,000 kW)), 1 shaft |
| Armament |
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Performance Radar Chart
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has greater displacement, the Kilo-class or Lafayette-class?
The Lafayette-class has greater displacement at 7,443 tons compared to the Kilo-class's 2,325 tons.
Which is faster, the Kilo-class or Lafayette-class?
The Kilo-class is faster with a maximum speed of 17 knots compared to the Lafayette-class's 16 knots.
Which has longer range, the Kilo-class or Lafayette-class?
The Lafayette-class is nuclear-powered with unlimited range, while the Kilo-class has a range of 6,000 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Kilo-class or Lafayette-class?
The Lafayette-class is longer at 130.0 meters compared to the Kilo-class's 72.6 meters.
How many crew members do the Kilo-class and Lafayette-class have?
The Lafayette-class has a larger crew complement of 140 compared to the Kilo-class's 52 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Kilo-class or Lafayette-class?
The Lafayette-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 400 meters compared to the Kilo-class's 300 meters.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Kilo-class or Lafayette-class?
The Kilo-class has been built in greater numbers with 75 vessels compared to 9 vessels of the Lafayette-class.