Kilo vs Type 209

The Kilo and the Type 209 are both Submarine classes. Displacement is 2,325 tons for the Kilo vs 1,285 tons for the Type 209. The Kilo reaches 17 knots vs 11 knots for the Type 209. Operational range is 6,000 nautical miles for the Kilo vs 11,000 for the Type 209. The Kilo carries a crew of 52 vs 36 for the Type 209. Submerged displacement is 3,075 tons for the Kilo vs 1,810 tons for the Type 209. The Type 209 can dive to 500 m compared to 300 m for the Kilo. The Kilo was produced in 75 units vs 68 for the Type 209. Cost per hull is $200M for the Kilo vs $285M for the Type 209. The Kilo was commissioned in 1980, 9 years after the Type 209 (1971).

Ex-USSR Kilo submarine, introduced in 1980, utilizes diesel-electric propulsion.
Origin 🇨🇳 Ex-USSR
Category Submarine
Type Attack submarine
Manufacturer Rubin Design Bureau
Year introduced 1980
Number built 75 units
Estimated unit price $200 million
German diesel-electric submarine, introduced in 1971, displaces 1,285 tons.
Origin 🇩🇪 Germany
Category Submarine
Type Diesel-electric attack submarines
Manufacturer Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft
Year introduced 1971
Number built 68 units
Estimated unit price $285 million
Displacement 2,325 tons â—‰
Maximum speed 17.0 knots â—‰
Range 6,000 nm at 7 knots â—‰
Length 72.6 m â—‰
Beam 9.9 m â—‰
Crew 52 â—‰
Max depth 300 m â—‰
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 1,285 tons â—‰
Maximum speed 11.0 knots â—‰
Range 11,000 nm at 10 knots â—‰
Length 64.4 m â—‰
Beam 6.5 m â—‰
Crew 36 â—‰
Max depth 500 m â—‰
Propulsion Diesel-electric, 4 diesels, 1 shaft, 6,100 shp (4,500 kW)
Armament
  • 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

Performance Radar Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Kilo-class or Type 209-class?
The Kilo-class has greater displacement at 2,325 tons compared to the Type 209-class's 1,285 tons.
Which is faster, the Kilo-class or Type 209-class?
The Kilo-class is faster with a maximum speed of 17 knots compared to the Type 209-class's 11 knots.
Which has longer range, the Kilo-class or Type 209-class?
The Type 209-class has a longer range at 11,000 nautical miles compared to the Kilo-class's 6,000 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Kilo-class or Type 209-class?
The Kilo-class is longer at 72.6 meters compared to the Type 209-class's 64.4 meters.
How many crew members do the Kilo-class and Type 209-class have?
The Kilo-class has a larger crew complement of 52 compared to the Type 209-class's 36 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Kilo-class or Type 209-class?
The Type 209-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 500 meters compared to the Kilo-class's 300 meters.
Which is more expensive, the Kilo-class or Type 209-class?
The Type 209-class is more expensive at approximately $285 million per unit compared to the Kilo-class at $200 million.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Kilo-class or Type 209-class?
The Kilo-class has been built in greater numbers with 75 vessels compared to 68 vessels of the Type 209-class.