Kilo vs Swiftsure

Overview

The Kilo and the Swiftsure are both Submarine classes.

Displacement is 2,325 tons for the Kilo vs 4,400 tons for the Swiftsure. The Kilo reaches 17 knots vs 20 knots for the Swiftsure. Operational range is 6,000 nautical miles for the Kilo vs 99,999 for the Swiftsure. The Kilo carries a crew of 52 vs 116 for the Swiftsure. Submerged displacement is 3,075 tons for the Kilo vs 4,900 tons for the Swiftsure. The Kilo can dive to 300 m compared to 300 m for the Swiftsure.

The Kilo was produced in 75 units vs 6 for the Swiftsure. The Kilo was commissioned in 1980, 7 years after the Swiftsure (1973).

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
British nuclear-powered submarine, 4,400 tons displacement, propelled by shrouded pump-jet propulsors.
Profile of Swiftsure
Origin 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Category Submarine
Type Nuclear-powered fleet submarine
Manufacturer Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd. (VSEL)
Year introduced 1973
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 4,400 tons
Maximum speed 20.0 knots
Range Unlimited
Length 82.9 m
Beam 9.8 m
Crew 116
Max depth 300 m
Propulsion Nuclear Reactor, shrouded pump-jet propulsors
Armament
  • 5 x 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes
  • Spearfish torpedoes
  • RN Sub Harpoon missiles
  • Tomahawk missiles

Performance Radar Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Kilo-class or Swiftsure-class?
The Swiftsure-class has greater displacement at 4,400 tons compared to the Kilo-class's 2,325 tons.
Which is faster, the Kilo-class or Swiftsure-class?
The Swiftsure-class is faster with a maximum speed of 20 knots compared to the Kilo-class's 17 knots.
Which has longer range, the Kilo-class or Swiftsure-class?
The Swiftsure-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 Swiftsure-class?
The Swiftsure-class is longer at 82.9 meters compared to the Kilo-class's 72.6 meters.
How many crew members do the Kilo-class and Swiftsure-class have?
The Swiftsure-class has a larger crew complement of 116 compared to the Kilo-class's 52 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Kilo-class or Swiftsure-class?
The Swiftsure-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 300 meters compared to the Kilo-class's 300 meters.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Kilo-class or Swiftsure-class?
The Kilo-class has been built in greater numbers with 75 vessels compared to 6 vessels of the Swiftsure-class.