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Kilo vs Alfa

Kilo vs Alfa at a glance — displacement 2,325 vs 2,300 tons, length 72 vs 81 m, speed 17 vs 12 knots, crew 52 vs 31.

Kilo submarine side profile drawing
🇷🇺 Kilo
Alfa submarine side profile drawing
🇷🇺 Alfa
Specifications
Kilo Alfa
Origin 🇷🇺 Ex-USSR 🇷🇺 Ex-USSR
Category Submarine Submarine
Type Attack submarine Nuclear-powered attack submarine
Manufacturer Rubin Design Bureau Admiralty yard, Leningrad
Year introduced 1980 1971
Number built 75 units 7 units
Estimated unit price $200 million NA
Displacement 2,325 tons 2,300 tons
Maximum speed 17.0 knots 12.0 knots
Range 6,000 nm at 7 knots Unlimited
Length 72.6 m 81.4 m
Beam 9.9 m 9.5 m
Crew 52 31
Max depth 300 m 400 m
Performance Radar Chart
Armament & Systems
Kilo Alfa
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
  • 6 x 533 mm torpedo tubes
  • 18 SET-65 or 53-65K torpedoes
  • 20 VA-111 Shkval torpedoes
  • 24 mines
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 OK-550 or BM-40A, 155-MWt Lead-bismuth cooled, beryllium-moderated reactor; 40,000 shp (30,000 kW) steam turbine, one shaft
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Kilo-class or Alfa-class?
The Kilo-class has greater displacement at 2,325 tons compared to the Alfa-class's 2,300 tons.
Which is faster, the Kilo-class or Alfa-class?
The Kilo-class is faster with a maximum speed of 17 knots compared to the Alfa-class's 12 knots.
Which has longer range, the Kilo-class or Alfa-class?
The Alfa-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 Alfa-class?
The Alfa-class is longer at 81.4 meters compared to the Kilo-class's 72.6 meters.
How many crew members do the Kilo-class and Alfa-class have?
The Kilo-class has a larger crew complement of 52 compared to the Alfa-class's 31 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Kilo-class or Alfa-class?
The Alfa-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 Alfa-class?
The Kilo-class has been built in greater numbers with 75 vessels compared to 7 vessels of the Alfa-class.