Romania Acquires Turkish-Built Hisar-Class Corvette, Marking Türkiye’s First Warship Export to a NATO–EU Member
Romania Finalizes Purchase of Türkiye’s Hisar-Class Light Corvette
Romania has officially taken ownership of the Hisar-class light corvette “TCG Akhisar (P-1220)” following a government-to-government agreement signed in Bucharest earlier this week. The deal, valued at €223 million (excluding VAT), includes the ship, crew training, and an extensive logistical support package.
The transfer was confirmed by Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defense and ASFAT, which oversaw the project from construction to delivery. For Türkiye, this represents a historic milestone: the first export of a domestically produced combat ship to a NATO and EU ally.
Romanian defense officials described the ship as a fast, practical solution to long-standing capability gaps. Years of stalled procurement programs had left Romania with an aging fleet, and the immediate need to reinforce maritime security in the Black Sea made the Akhisar transfer especially timely.
Why Romania Needed It — The Strategic Context
Romania has struggled for over a decade to modernize its navy. A previous acquisition program involving French-designed, locally built multirole corvettes collapsed amid legal disputes, financing difficulties, and political disagreements.
Meanwhile, Russia’s increasing assertiveness in the Black Sea—combined with Romania’s offshore energy infrastructure—has made naval modernization a strategic imperative. The ready-for-service Turkish corvette offered Bucharest a solution that was both quick and affordable.
What the Hisar-Class Corvette Brings to Romania
Though originally designed as an OPV (Offshore Patrol Vessel), Romania classifies the Akhisar as a “light corvette” thanks to its multi-mission capability and room for Western weapons integration.
Key specifications include:
- Length: ~99.5 m
- Displacement: ~2,300 tons
- Maximum speed: 24 knots
- Helicopter and UAV hangar
- Modern multi-function radar suite
- Surface, anti-submarine, and patrol mission profiles
Romania is expected to integrate several Western systems onto the platform, with Norwegian-made NSM anti-ship missiles among the leading candidates.
A Strategic Win for Türkiye
For Ankara, the sale strengthens its reputation as a rising naval shipbuilding power. ASFAT and Türkiye’s naval shipyards have been promoting corvette- and OPV-class vessels to global markets, but this marks their first major breakthrough inside NATO’s core.
It also deepens defense cooperation between Türkiye and Romania—two countries aligned on Black Sea stability, NATO reinforcement, and shared concerns regarding maritime security.
What Comes Next
Romania is expected to complete Western system integrations within six months, making the ship fully operational by mid-2026. If the adaptation process proceeds smoothly, defense analysts believe Romania could pursue additional Turkish-built platforms.
For Türkiye, the successful export may open doors to further ship sales to NATO partners seeking reliable, cost-effective naval solutions.