Romania plans to procure an “almost new” Turkish warship to help protect a strategic gas project being developed in the Black Sea.
The planned acquisition of the TCG Akhisar, a Hisar-class offshore patrol vessel, is expected to cost 223 million euros ($260 million), according to Romanian outlet HotNews.
An additional 42 million euros ($49 million) will be required to achieve operational capability with the vessel, the outlet added.
The Romanian Parliament needs to approve the planned procurement, which is being considered to secure the Neptune Deep Project in the Black Sea.
Romanian energy firms OMV Petrom and Romgaz are developing the project, which is expected to significantly boost the country’s gas production, potentially making it the EU’s largest gas producer.
The vessel’s estimated delivery period is only six months. Once delivered, it will be outfitted with combat systems requested by the Romanian Navy at a Romanian shipyard.
The warship will be armed with Western torpedoes and anti-ship missile, namely the Naval Strike Missile, which has also been reportedly contracted for the country’s coastal batteries and the modernization of the missile-carrying ships.
“The light corvette-type ship is equipped with modern navigation and communications systems and also has a very wide range of sensors and state-of-the-art weapon systems, which ensures the ship a high combat potential in all combat environments,” HotNews wrote, citing the Romanian Ministry of Defense.
“It has a hangar that provides facilities for a medium helicopter and an unmanned aircraft.”
TCG Akhisar is one of ten Hisar-class offshore patrol vessels planned for the Turkish Navy.
Launched in 2023, the ship entered service in December 2024 and is undergoing sea-trials.
The 99.5-meter (326-feet) vessel has a displacement of 2,300 tons and can accommodate a crew of 104.
Featuring diesel-electric propulsion, the ship can reach a top speed of 24 knots (45 kilometers/28 miles per hour), has an operational range of 8,300 kilometers (5,157 miles), and endurance of 21 days.
In terms of armament, it is equipped with an MKE 76/62mm National Naval Cannon main gun, as well as an Aselsan GOKDENIZ 35mm anti-aircraft gun.
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