MApN has completed the procurement procedure for the HISAR light corvette

Representatives of the General Directorate for Armaments within the Ministry of National Defense signed yesterday with their Turkish counterparts the contract for the procurement of a HISAR-class light corvette, a moment that marks one of the country's most important investments in the field of maritime defense in recent years.

The contract, worth a total of 223 million euros excluding VAT, includes the cost of the ship, personnel training and an extensive logistical support package. The program received the approval of the Supreme Council of National Defense since March 2025, and on September 8, the joint defense committees of Parliament unanimously gave it a favorable opinion, confirming the political consensus on the importance of this acquisition.

The HISAR-class light corvette will significantly strengthen the capabilities of the Romanian Naval Forces, being intended to protect critical maritime infrastructure, execute patrol missions and participate in combat operations. The acquisition is part of the national defense modernization plan and contributes to increasing interoperability with allied partners, in a regional context marked by increased geopolitical pressures.

In parallel, the Romanian defense industry is preparing for a possible structural transformation, after Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta S.p.A. announced, also yesterday, its intention to carry out a complete technology transfer to Romania for three of the main products included in the SAFE program. The company's offer provides for the full manufacturing in our country of the NARP 5.56 assault rifle, the APX 9x19 semi-automatic pistol and the 40-millimeter grenade launcher, and for the 7.62-millimeter sniper rifles and the 5.56-millimeter and 7.62-millimeter light machine guns, a partially localized production in Romania is proposed.

According to the press release issued by Beretta, the representatives of the Italian company express their availability for negotiations on the full transfer of technology and for the 9x19 compact machine gun.

The company officially responded to the Request for Information launched by the SAFE Working Group coordinated by the Head of the Prime Minister's Chancellery, presenting a strategic model for the development of the national defense industry. The proposal includes the integration of advanced production, technology transfer and industrial implementation in Romania, in accordance with the requirements of the European Union and the standards of the procurement programs coordinated at European level. Technology transfer is the core of the Beretta proposal, aiming to strengthen local production capacities, increase operational independence, stimulate collaborations with Romanian industrial partners and support national security objectives through long-term investments. The company declares its readiness to enter the next stage of negotiations, to define the level of localization, establish the implementation calendar and finalize the Industrial Participation and Technology Transfer Plan, in full accordance with the SAFE program and Romania's defense strategy.

Yesterday's two events - the signing of the contract for the acquisition of the HISAR corvette and the potential industrial location of Beretta in our country - signify a change of pace in Romania's defense policy, which is strengthening both its military capabilities and its industrial base, in a constantly changing geopolitical context.