ISTANBUL, — June 21, 2026 : Romania officially commissioned the light missile corvette “Contraamiral August Roman” (Cvt 261) on June 20 during a flag-raising ceremony at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard, marking the first new warship to enter Romanian naval service in 35 years.
The ceremony was attended by Romanian President Nicușor Dan and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, underscoring the growing defense cooperation between the two NATO allies. The event also coincided with the commissioning of TCG Koçhisar, a sister HISAR-class vessel entering service with the Turkish Navy.
The vessel was originally constructed as TCG Akhisar (P-1220) under Türkiye’s national MILGEM shipbuilding program before being acquired by the Romanian Ministry of Defense in late 2025 for approximately €223 million ($259 million). The agreement includes the ship, crew training, and initial logistical and technical support.
The transfer represents a significant milestone for the Turkish defense industry as it is the country's first export of a combat-capable warship to a member of both NATO and the European Union.
Strengthening Romania’s Black Sea Fleet
The commissioning of Contraamiral August Roman forms part of Romania’s efforts to modernize its naval forces amid evolving security challenges in the Black Sea region. The acquisition enables Bucharest to rapidly enhance naval capabilities after previous domestic and European shipbuilding projects experienced delays.
Speaking during the ceremony, President Nicușor Dan said the new corvette would improve Romania’s maritime surveillance, strengthen national defense capabilities, and support NATO missions on the alliance’s eastern flank. President Erdoğan emphasized the importance of maintaining security and stability in the Black Sea, describing the delivery as another step in the long-standing defense relationship between Türkiye and Romania.
Following commissioning, the vessel was assigned to Romania’s 50th Corvette Division “Viceamiral Vasile Urseanu.”
Design and Development
The HISAR-class ships are derived from the Ada-class corvette design developed under the MILGEM program. Construction of the lead vessel began at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard in 2023, while sea trials commenced in December 2024.
Although officially classified by Türkiye as an offshore patrol vessel (OPV), Romania designates the ship as a light missile corvette due to its planned integration of advanced combat systems and multi-domain warfare capabilities.
Built with a modular architecture, the vessel is designed to perform a wide range of missions, including maritime patrol, surveillance, surface warfare, air defense, and anti-submarine operations.
Main Characteristics
- Displacement: 2,300 tons
- Length: 99.56 meters
- Beam: 14.42 meters
- Draft: 3.77 meters
- Crew: 104 personnel
- Autonomy: 21 days without refueling
- Range: 4,500 nautical miles
- Maximum Speed: 24 knots
- Cruising Speed: 12 knots
The corvette utilizes a combined diesel-electric propulsion arrangement designed to support extended patrol operations while maintaining fuel efficiency and operational flexibility.
Weapons and Combat Systems
The ship was delivered with its standard weapons package, primarily produced by Turkish defense companies, while additional systems are expected to be integrated during future modernization phases.
Artillery and Close Defense
- One 76 mm MKE Denizhan naval gun
- One Aselsan GÖKDENİZ Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)
- Two 12.7 mm remotely controlled machine guns
Air Defense
- Mk 56 Vertical Launch System (VLS) configured for RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM)
Anti-Ship Warfare
- Provision for eight U.S.-made Naval Strike Missiles (NSM)
Anti-Submarine Warfare
- Roketsan anti-submarine warfare rocket system
- Meteksan Yakamos 2020 hull-mounted sonar
Aviation Facilities
- Flight deck and enclosed hangar capable of supporting:
- One military helicopter
- One Bayraktar-type unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
Radar and Sensors
- Aselsan MAR-D 3D surveillance radar
- Aselsan AKR-D fire-control radar
- Low Probability of Intercept (LPI) navigation radar
- Meteksan Yakamos 2020 New Generation Mounted Sonar
Together, these systems provide the vessel with capabilities across surface, air, and underwater domains, enabling operations in both coastal and open-sea environments.
Future Integration Program
Romania plans a second procurement phase during the second half of 2026 to complete the vessel’s full combat configuration. The planned upgrades include the integration of vertical launch missile systems and additional anti-submarine warfare equipment tailored to Romanian Navy operational requirements.
Once these systems are installed, Contraamiral August Roman is expected to become one of the most capable ships in Romania’s fleet, providing enhanced deterrence, surveillance, and maritime security capabilities in the Black Sea region.
The commissioning of the corvette marks a major step in Romania’s naval modernization program while highlighting the expanding defense-industrial partnership between Romania and Türkiye. With the vessel now formally in service, the Romanian Navy gains its first newly built major surface combatant in more than three decades.
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