Kilo vs Le Redoutable

The Kilo and the Le Redoutable are both Submarine classes. The Le Redoutable displaces 8,000 tons — 3.4x the Kilo's 2,325 tons. The Kilo reaches 17 knots vs 15 knots for the Le Redoutable. Operational range is 6,000 nautical miles for the Kilo vs 99,999 for the Le Redoutable. The Kilo carries a crew of 52 vs 135 for the Le Redoutable. Submerged displacement is 3,075 tons for the Kilo vs 9,000 tons for the Le Redoutable. The Kilo can dive to 300 m compared to 200 m for the Le Redoutable. The Kilo was produced in 75 units vs 6 for the Le Redoutable. The Kilo was commissioned in 1980, 9 years after the Le Redoutable (1971).

Ex-USSR Kilo submarine, introduced in 1980, utilizes diesel-electric propulsion.
Profile of Kilo
Origin 🇨🇳 Ex-USSR
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 1971, displaced 8,000 tons when submerged.
Profile of Le Redoutable
Origin 🇫🇷 France
Category Submarine
Type Ballistic missile submarine
Manufacturer Arsenal de Cherbourg (DCAN)
Year introduced 1971
Number built 6 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
  • 6 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes
  • 18 torpedoes
  • 4 Kalibr/Club land-attack cruise missile, anti-ship missile and anti-submarine missile
  • 24 mines
  • 8 9K34 Strela-3 (SA-N-8 Gremlin) or 8 9K310 Igla-1 (SA-N-10 Gimlet) surface-to-air missiles
Displacement 8,000 tons
Maximum speed 15.0 knots
Range Unlimited
Length 128.0 m
Beam 10.6 m
Crew 135
Max depth 200 m
Propulsion One PWR 16,000 shp (12,000 kW), HEU <= 90%
Armament
  • 16 × M4 MSBS (Mer-Sol Balistique Stratégique) nuclear missiles
  • 4 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes
  • F-17 and L-5 torpedoes
  • SM-39 Exocet anti-ship missile

Performance Radar Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Kilo-class or Le Redoutable-class?
The Le Redoutable-class has greater displacement at 8,000 tons compared to the Kilo-class's 2,325 tons.
Which is faster, the Kilo-class or Le Redoutable-class?
The Kilo-class is faster with a maximum speed of 17 knots compared to the Le Redoutable-class's 15 knots.
Which has longer range, the Kilo-class or Le Redoutable-class?
The Le Redoutable-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 Le Redoutable-class?
The Le Redoutable-class is longer at 128.0 meters compared to the Kilo-class's 72.6 meters.
How many crew members do the Kilo-class and Le Redoutable-class have?
The Le Redoutable-class has a larger crew complement of 135 compared to the Kilo-class's 52 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Kilo-class or Le Redoutable-class?
The Kilo-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 300 meters compared to the Le Redoutable-class's 200 meters.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Kilo-class or Le Redoutable-class?
The Kilo-class has been built in greater numbers with 75 vessels compared to 6 vessels of the Le Redoutable-class.