Romania Confirms Plans to Acquire Turkish Hisar-class OPV

Romania’s Minister of National Defence Ionuț Moșteanu said on 15 August that the Ministry of National Defence is waiting for parliamentary approval to purchase at least one Hisar-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) built in Turkey.

“… next year we will have a new corvette. It is already completed in Turkey, essentially turnkey, awaiting parliamentary approval in September. We have sent the request, since this is an acquisition of over €100 million [$117 million],” Moșteanu was quoted as saying by Janes.

In July, Romanian outlet HotNews reported that Romania plans to buy the “almost new” Turkish warship TCG Akhisar, a Hisar-class offshore patrol vessel, for €223 million ($260 million) to help protect a Black Sea gas project. Delivery is expected within six months, after which the ship will be fitted with Romanian Navy combat systems at a local shipyard.

The Hisar-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) are under construction at Istanbul Naval Shipyard, with two ships, TCG Akhisar and TCG Koçhisar, launched in September 2023. Akhisar, one of ten planned for the Turkish Navy, entered service in December 2024 and is undergoing sea trials.

Each vessel measures 99.5 m in length, 14.4 m in beam, 3.8 m in draught, and displaces about 2,300 tonnes. Based on the Turkish MILGEM corvette design, the class features a combined diesel-electric or diesel (CODELOD) propulsion system with four generators powering two electric motors and controllable-pitch propellers. This allows a top speed of 24 kt, a range of 4,500 nm at 12 kt, and 21 days of endurance. The ships accommodate a crew of 104.

Armament includes an MKE 76/62 mm naval cannon and an Aselsan GOKDENIZ 35 mm anti-aircraft gun. Designed for multi-role operations, they can conduct ISR, maritime patrol, counter-terrorism, search and rescue, and special operations, with a “fitted for but not with” approach enabling future upgrades.