Kilo vs Scorpène

The Kilo and the Scorpène are both Submarine classes. Displacement is 2,325 tons for the Kilo vs 1,565 tons for the Scorpène. The Kilo reaches 17 knots vs 12 knots for the Scorpène. Operational range is 6,000 nautical miles for the Kilo vs 6,500 for the Scorpène. The Kilo carries a crew of 52 vs 31 for the Scorpène. Submerged displacement is 3,075 tons for the Kilo vs 1,900 tons for the Scorpène. The Scorpène can dive to 350 m compared to 300 m for the Kilo. The Kilo was produced in 75 units vs 14 for the Scorpène. Cost per hull is $200M for the Kilo vs $450M for the Scorpène. The Kilo was commissioned in 1980, 25 years before the Scorpène (2005).

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 diesel-electric submarine, 1,565 tons displacement, utilizes air-independent propulsion.
Profile of Scorpène
Origin 🇫🇷 France
Category Submarine
Type Diesel-electric attack submarines
Manufacturer Naval Group
Year introduced 2005
Number built 14 units
Estimated unit price $450 million
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 1,565 tons
Maximum speed 12.0 knots
Range 6,500 nm at 8 knots
Length 61.7 m
Beam 6.2 m
Crew 31
Max depth 350 m
Propulsion Diesel-electric, Batteries, Air-independent propulsion (AIP), MESMA AIP, DRDO PAFC Fuel Cell AIP
Armament
  • 6 x 533 mm torpedo tubes
  • 18 Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei Black Shark heavyweight torpedoes
  • SM-39 Exocet anti-ship missiles
  • A3SM (MICA) anti-air missiles
  • 30 mines

Performance Radar Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Kilo-class or Scorpène-class?
The Kilo-class has greater displacement at 2,325 tons compared to the Scorpène-class's 1,565 tons.
Which is faster, the Kilo-class or Scorpène-class?
The Kilo-class is faster with a maximum speed of 17 knots compared to the Scorpène-class's 12 knots.
Which has longer range, the Kilo-class or Scorpène-class?
The Scorpène-class has a longer range at 6,500 nautical miles compared to the Kilo-class's 6,000 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Kilo-class or Scorpène-class?
The Kilo-class is longer at 72.6 meters compared to the Scorpène-class's 61.7 meters.
How many crew members do the Kilo-class and Scorpène-class have?
The Kilo-class has a larger crew complement of 52 compared to the Scorpène-class's 31 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Kilo-class or Scorpène-class?
The Scorpène-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 350 meters compared to the Kilo-class's 300 meters.
Which is more expensive, the Kilo-class or Scorpène-class?
The Scorpène-class is more expensive at approximately $450 million per unit compared to the Kilo-class at $200 million.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Kilo-class or Scorpène-class?
The Kilo-class has been built in greater numbers with 75 vessels compared to 14 vessels of the Scorpène-class.