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Kilo vs Le Redoutable

Kilo submarine side profile drawing
🇷🇺 Kilo
Le Redoutable submarine side profile drawing
🇫🇷 Le Redoutable
Change comparison vs
Specifications
Kilo Le Redoutable
Origin 🇷🇺 Ex-USSR 🇫🇷 France
Category Submarine Submarine
Type Attack submarine Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine
Manufacturer Rubin Design Bureau Arsenal de Cherbourg (DCAN)
Year introduced 1980 1971
Number built 75 units 6 units
Estimated unit price $200 million NA
Displacement 2,325 tons 8,000 tons
Maximum speed 17.0 knots 15.0 knots
Range 6,000 nm at 7 knots Unlimited
Length 72.6 m 128.0 m
Beam 9.9 m 10.6 m
Crew 52 135
Max depth 300 m 200 m
Performance Radar Chart
Armament & Systems
Kilo Le Redoutable
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
  • 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
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 One PWR 16,000 shp (12,000 kW), HEU <= 90%

Overview

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).

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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.