Romania boosts Black Sea power with Turkish corvette acquisition PHOTO

Romania has officially initiated the acquisition process for the Turkish TCG AKHİSAR (P1220), a HİSAR-class light corvette, aiming to bolster its military presence in the strategically vital Black Sea region.

This development was reported by Defence Turk on social media and confirmed by the Romanian Ministry of Defence, per Caliber.Az.

🔵🇷🇴Romanya’nın 🇹🇷HİSAR sınıfı ADKG tedarikinde son durum

🔸Romanya, Türkiye’den HİSAR sınıfı açık deniz karakol gemisi TCG AKHİSAR'ı (P1220) yaklaşık 265 milyon euro bedel ile almaya hazırlanıyor.
🔗https://t.co/aQjpyAnGST pic.twitter.com/ImF0sq0oIf

— Defence Turk (@Defence_Turk) July 19, 2025

According to the ministry’s statement, the total estimated cost for upgrading the ship’s capabilities is approximately €265 million plus VAT, excluding anti-ship missile systems. The purchase price for the Corvette in its current state from Türkiye is about €223 million plus VAT.

The delivery schedule is notably tight, with an expected timeframe of around six months. Following delivery, the vessel will be outfitted with combat systems ordered by the Romanian Navy at a domestic shipyard.

The TCG AKHISAR is a state-of-the-art light corvette measuring 99.5 meters in length with a displacement of 2,300 tons and a crew capacity of 104 personnel.

Its armament includes a 76 mm MKE main cannon and a 35 mm GÖKDENİZ close-range air defence system developed by ASELSAN. Additionally, the ship features a hangar capable of accommodating both a helicopter and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

While the Romanian parliament’s approval for the purchase is still pending, the Ministry of Defence intends to launch a limited tender for the domestic construction of two light corvettes (Offshore Patrol Vessels) in Romania, marking a further step in enhancing the country’s naval defence capabilities.

By Tamilla Hasanova