Turkish Asfat to Export Corvette to Romania

Turkish company ASFAT has completed the country’s first-ever export of a combat ship to a NATO and European Union member state with the delivery of a Hisar-class light corvette to Romania.

On Wednesday, the Akhisar warship, built last year at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command, was formally handed over to the Romanian navy. The contract, covering personnel training and a logistics support package, is said to be worth €220 million.

The Akhisar measures 99.56 meters in length, 14.42 meters at maximum beam, and displaces approximately 2,300 tons. Its CODELOD propulsion system combines four diesel engines and two electric motors, supported by four diesel generators. This configuration provides a top speed of 24 knots, a cruising speed of 12 knots, and a range of roughly 4,500 nautical miles, enabling endurance of up to 21 days without returning to port.

Moreover, the ship’s flight deck can accommodate a 10‑ton helicopter and an unmanned aerial vehicle. Plus, it carries two rigid‑hull inflatable boats of 7.5 and 5.5 meters.

The electronic suite includes search and designation radar, a low‑probability‑of‑intercept navigation radar, sonar, electronic support measures, electro‑optical capabilities, and chaff dispensers. Its main armament comprises a 76‑mm gun and two 12.7‑mm machine guns, integrated with the ADVENT combat management system and a gun fire control system.

With a crew of 104, the corvette can perform intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, search and rescue, anti‑terrorism operations, coastal and offshore patrols, and maritime special operations. In secondary roles, it can undertake anti‑air warfare, electronic and acoustic warfare, shore bombardment, asymmetric warfare, maritime traffic surveillance, amphibious operations support and training.