Haluk Görgün, Secretary of the Secretariat of Defence Industries (SSB), has officially confirmed the sale price of Akhisar, the Hisar-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) exported to Romania, stating that the contract value stands at €223 million (excluding VAT).
Görgün made the remarks during ASFAT’s 8th anniversary reception, where he highlighted the company’s rapid growth and increasing strategic role within Türkiye’s defence-industrial structure under the Ministry of National Defence.
Describing ASFAT as “an institutional backbone that sustains capability in the field,” Görgün underlined that the company draws its strength from decades of accumulated experience across military factories and naval shipyards, supported by a wide pool of qualified personnel.
He stressed ASFAT’s ability to deliver readiness and sustainment across a broad range of platforms — from tanks and armoured vehicles to artillery systems and naval assets — alongside certified aviation infrastructure that supports international-standard maintenance and long-term sustainment.
Görgün also pointed to ASFAT’s capacity to operate through government-to-government cooperation mechanisms, allowing it to function beyond traditional production activities, and to act as a reliable instrument for building trust, institutional continuity, and joint capacity with partner countries.
Providing data on the company’s development, Görgün stated that ASFAT had expanded from 14 employees in 2018 to around 450 staff today, while the number of projects under execution had increased to 79. He added that ASFAT’s 2025 turnover reached $560 million according to financial reporting standards.
On global positioning, Görgün said ASFAT rose to 78th place in the Defense News Top 100 ranking in 2025, and aims to enter the top 70 defence companies worldwide in 2026.
In export performance and contract activity, Görgün said ASFAT reached its $3 billion sales-contract target in 2025, and expressed confidence the company will achieve a $5 billion sales target in 2026.
Crucially, Görgün’s confirmation of the Akhisar contract figure marked the first clear and direct statement from the Turkish side regarding the vessel’s export price. Romania’s Ministry of National Defence had previously disclosed the contract value as €223 million excluding VAT, but the figure had not been publicly confirmed in Türkiye until now.
During the same speech, Görgün also recalled that ASFAT will continue to execute major naval programmes, including the construction of the 7th to 10th offshore patrol vessels, as well as MİLDEN National Submarine Project Phase 1 and TF-2000 Air Warfare Destroyer Phase 1 and Phase 2.
However, his mention of TF-2000, while omitting any reference to ASFAT’s role in the National Aircraft Carrier (MUGEM) programme, drew attention — particularly as construction activity related to MUGEM was referenced on the same day at Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command.
Author: Özgür Ekşi
