ASFAT, a producer of military vessels and defence systems, completes Türkiye’s first international sale of a combat ship built in the country to a NATO and EU member state

ASFAT, a wholly state-owned company operating under Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defence (MoND), has signed an agreement for the delivery of the light corvette Akhisar to the Romanian Naval Forces. This transaction represents a milestone for Türkiye’s defence industry, as it is the first international sale of a combat ship built in Türkiye to a NATO and European Union member state, and also a significant step for Romania, which will receive its first new major surface vessel for the Romanian Naval Forces in recent decades.
Completed last year at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command, Akhisar belongs to the class of light corvettes and will enhance maritime security in the region while supporting Romania’s naval modernisation efforts. The agreement reflects the technological competence and manufacturing quality of Türkiye’s naval defence sector and further strengthens the military cooperation between Romania and Türkiye.
The delivery of the “Akhisar” corvette highlights the maturity of ASFAT’s industrial capabilities and the growing relevance of its products on the international defence market. The vessel will strengthen Romania’s maritime presence in the Black Sea and support the country’s commitments within NATO operations, thanks to systems fully interoperable with Alliance standards and compatible with multinational mission requirements. Designed based on the expertise accumulated in Türkiye’s military shipyards, “Akhisar” stands out through its operational flexibility and high level of NATO interoperability — key factors in Romania’s decision to proceed with the acquisition.
The Akhisar Corvette to Join the Romanian Naval Forces
The light corvette being delivered to Romania 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. The flight deck can accommodate a 10‑ton helicopter and an unmanned aerial vehicle, and the ship 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. A communications suite with local area network, integrated communications, satellite communications and an underwater telephone ensures interoperability with allied forces.
About ASFAT
ASFAT was established on 12 January 2018 to manage and utilise the excess capacity of 27 military factories and 10 naval shipyards under the authority of the Ministry of National Defence. The company is authorised to provide products and services to allied nations, leveraging decades of experience in production, maintenance, repair, and modernisation.
In 2023, only five years after its founding, ASFAT entered the “Defence News Top 100” ranking; in 2024 it placed 94th, and in 2025 advanced to 78th position, becoming Türkiye’s third-largest defence exporter. The company’s capabilities include the construction of frigates, corvettes, patrol vessels, logistic support ships, floating docks, unmanned surface vessels, and major naval infrastructure projects such as shipyard modernisation and capacity expansion.
ASFAT serves as the main contractor for several key programmes: the Pakistan MILGEM Corvette Programme (four MILGEM-class corvettes), the Hisar-class Offshore Patrol Vessel Programme for the Turkish Navy (2+4 vessels), the design and construction of Türkiye’s first air-defence destroyer (TF-2000), and the development of Türkiye’s first national submarine (MİLDEN).

The information provided by KomuniK