The HISAR-class corvette Contraamiral August Roman - 261 conducted on October 6 its first live-fire exercises using its onboard artillery systems since entering service with the Romanian Naval Forces (FNR), during training activities in the Black Sea, the Naval Forces Staff announced on Wednesday.

'During the training sequences conducted in the Black Sea, the ship's crew carried out search and rescue exercises at sea, enemy air threat repulsion drills, surface warfare activities, and operations to neutralise navigation hazards, as well as aerial and maritime drones. In addition, the vessel's boarding team conducted live-fire exercises using their individual weapons,' the FNR said in a statement.

The Contraamiral August Roman corvette is in the final stages of its operationalisation process and is expected to make a significant contribution in the coming period to missions aimed at ensuring freedom of navigation and strengthening naval presence in the Romanian area of responsibility in the Black Sea. To this end, one of the exercise's objectives was to assess both the ship and its crew by a team from the Naval Forces' Training, Simulation, Evaluation and War Gaming Centre.

The ship has a crew of 85 military personnel and is commanded by Captain Sorin Huruiala.

The corvette, which belongs to the HISAR class, entered service with the Romanian Naval Forces on June 20, 2026. It is designed to carry out a wide range of missions, including surveillance, reconnaissance, patrol, maritime interdiction, and search-and-rescue operations at sea, as well as surface, anti-aircraft and anti-submarine warfare missions, including operations involving an embarked helicopter. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Nona Jalba; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)