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Scorpène vs Type 209

Scorpène submarine side profile drawing
🇫🇷 Scorpène
Change comparison vs
Specifications
Scorpène Type 209
Origin 🇫🇷 France 🇩🇪 Germany
Category Submarine Submarine
Type Diesel-electric attack submarine Diesel-electric attack submarine
Manufacturer Naval Group Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft
Year introduced 2005 1971
Number built 14 units 68 units
Estimated unit price $450 million $285 million
Displacement 1,565 tons 1,285 tons
Maximum speed 12.0 knots 11.0 knots
Range 6,500 nm at 8 knots 11,000 nm at 10 knots
Length 61.7 m 64.4 m
Beam 6.2 m 6.5 m
Crew 31 36
Max depth 350 m 500 m
Performance Radar Chart
Armament & Systems
Scorpène Type 209
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
  • 8 x 533 mm torpedo tubes
  • 14 torpedoes
  • UGM-84 Harpoon missiles
  • SeaHake mod 4 torpedoes
  • SUT torpedoes
  • SST torpedoes
  • Mark 24 Tigerfish torpedoes
  • DM2A3 torpedoes
  • Blackshark torpedoes
  • A184 mod. 3 torpedoes
  • DM2A4 torpedoes
  • Mark 37 torpedoes
  • Mark 48 torpedoes
  • Mines
Propulsion Diesel-electric, Batteries, Air-independent propulsion (AIP), MESMA AIP, DRDO PAFC Fuel Cell AIP Diesel-electric, 4 diesels, 1 shaft, 6,100 shp (4,500 kW)

Overview

The Scorpène and the Type 209 are both Submarine classes.

Displacement is 1,565 tons for the Scorpène vs 1,285 tons for the Type 209. The Scorpène reaches 12 knots vs 11 knots for the Type 209. Operational range is 6,500 nautical miles for the Scorpène vs 11,000 for the Type 209. The Scorpène carries a crew of 31 vs 36 for the Type 209. Submerged displacement is 1,900 tons for the Scorpène vs 1,810 tons for the Type 209. The Type 209 can dive to 500 m compared to 350 m for the Scorpène.

The Scorpène was produced in 14 units vs 68 for the Type 209. Cost per hull is $450M for the Scorpène vs $285M for the Type 209. The Scorpène was commissioned in 2005, 34 years after the Type 209 (1971).

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Scorpène-class or Type 209-class?
The Scorpène-class has greater displacement at 1,565 tons compared to the Type 209-class's 1,285 tons.
Which is faster, the Scorpène-class or Type 209-class?
The Scorpène-class is faster with a maximum speed of 12 knots compared to the Type 209-class's 11 knots.
Which has longer range, the Scorpène-class or Type 209-class?
The Type 209-class has a longer range at 11,000 nautical miles compared to the Scorpène-class's 6,500 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Scorpène-class or Type 209-class?
The Type 209-class is longer at 64.4 meters compared to the Scorpène-class's 61.7 meters.
How many crew members do the Scorpène-class and Type 209-class have?
The Type 209-class has a larger crew complement of 36 compared to the Scorpène-class's 31 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Scorpène-class or Type 209-class?
The Type 209-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 500 meters compared to the Scorpène-class's 350 meters.
Which is more expensive, the Scorpène-class or Type 209-class?
The Scorpène-class is more expensive at approximately $450 million per unit compared to the Type 209-class at $285 million.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Scorpène-class or Type 209-class?
The Type 209-class has been built in greater numbers with 68 vessels compared to 14 vessels of the Scorpène-class.