Romanian defence minister confirms plan to acquire Hisar-class corvette

TCG Akhisar (P1220) OPV commenced sea trials in December 2024. (ASFAT)

Romanian Minister of National Defence Ionuț Moșteanu confirmed on 15 August that the country's Ministry of National Defence (MND) is awaiting parliamentary approval to purchase at least one of the Turkish-built Hisar-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs).

“… next year we will have a new corvette. It is already completed in Türkiye, essentially turnkey, awaiting parliamentary approval in September. We have sent the request, since this is an acquisition of over EUR100 million [USD117 million],” Moșteanu said.

In September 2023, two Hisar-class OPVs, TCG Akhisar and TCG Koçhisar, were launched at Istanbul Naval Shipyard. Each vessel has a length of 99.56 m with a beam of 14.42 m, a draught of 3.77 m, and a displacement of around 2,300 tonnes. They are based on a modified Turkish National Ship Project (Milli Gemi Projesi: MILGEM) corvette design.

To support sustained operations, the ships employ a combined diesel-electric or diesel (CODELOD) propulsion configuration, in which four diesel generators supply power to two electric motors driving a pair of controllable-pitch propellers.

This system allows for long-range, fuel-efficient cruising while still enabling a maximum speed of 24 kt. At an economical speed of 12 kt, the vessels can achieve a range of approximately 4,500 nm.

Designed for multiple mission profiles, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR); search and rescue; counter-terrorism; maritime surveillance; and special operations, the ships are being constructed with a ‘fitted for but not with' approach, which enables additional weapon and sensor systems to be integrated at a later stage according to operational requirements.