Canada partners with Ukraine for domestic production of Roshel Senator armored vehicles.

On February 24, 2025, the Ukrainian Defense Industry Joint-Stock Company (Ukroboronprom) signed an agreement with Canadian company Roshel to jointly produce armored personnel carriers (APCs) in Ukraine. Under this agreement, Roshel will provide technical documentation and essential components for the production of its armored vehicles domestically. The collaboration is expected to accelerate the delivery of these vehicles to Ukrainian forces while contributing to the national economy and allowing local manufacturers access to Western technology.
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Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has received approximately 1,400 Roshel Senator armored vehicles, with the first deliveries taking place in April 2022. (Picture source: Roshel)

Herman Smetanin, Ukraine's Minister for Strategic Industries, stated that Roshel armored vehicles are already in use by Ukrainian forces, and their domestic production will reduce delivery times to combat units. This agreement is part of an effort to integrate Ukraine into the defense-industrial base of allied nations, reinforcing industrial capabilities and maintaining a steady supply of armored platforms. Oleh Huliak, CEO of the Ukrainian Defense Industry JSC, noted that Ukraine continues to develop its own battle tanks and armored combat vehicles in addition to localizing Western vehicle production.

Roshel’s Senator armored vehicles, which have been in service in Ukraine since the Russian invasion, are designed to provide protection in combat zones. Originally developed for law enforcement and security applications, the Senator has been adapted for military use. The vehicle is built on the Ford F-550 chassis and features CEN B7-rated armor, offering resistance against small arms fire and explosive threats, including shrapnel from 122mm artillery shell detonations. It can transport up to ten occupants and has a tire pressure regulation system to enhance mobility.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has received approximately 1,400 Roshel Senator armored vehicles. The first deliveries took place in April 2022 as part of a $500 million Canadian military aid package. In January 2023, Canada supplied an additional 200 vehicles under a $90 million aid package. These armored vehicles have been employed by Ukrainian border guards, special operations forces, and regular military units. Reports indicate that Roshel MRAPs have withstood encounters with anti-tank mines and drone strikes, preventing casualties among crews.

Roshel has increased production capacity to meet the growing demand from both current, future, and potential operators like Chile. The company currently produces around 140 armored vehicles per month, with a significant number delivered to Ukraine. To support production efforts, Roshel has established a new manufacturing plant in Michigan, USA, following a partnership with Ford, replicating its Canadian operations. The company is also exploring production facilities in Europe, with Poland identified as a possible site due to logistical advantages and its role as a supply hub for Ukraine. Additionally, Roshel is considering opening a plant in Germany to cater to NATO and European customers, such as the Sarajevo Police.

The Roshel Senator is an armored personnel carrier based on the Ford F-550 chassis, developed for both law enforcement and military applications. It features CEN B7-rated armor, capable of withstanding 7.62×51mm NATO rounds, small arms fire, and explosive threats, including fragments from 122mm artillery shell detonations. The standard version accommodates up to ten occupants, with various configurations available for personnel transport, command and control, medical evacuation, and special operations. The vehicle is powered by a 6.7L Power Stroke diesel engine, producing 330 horsepower and 750 Nm of torque, coupled with a 10-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive for enhanced mobility in difficult terrains.

The MRAP variant incorporates a V-shaped hull to improve blast resistance, mitigating damage from landmines and improvised explosive devices up to the equivalent of 6 kg of TNT. The vehicle’s modular design allows for multiple protection levels, including additional armor packages, advanced sensor systems, and optional remote-controlled weapon stations. Other variants include a pickup-based version for infrastructure security, a mobile command unit, and an anti-drone variant equipped with electronic warfare capabilities. Roshel continues to refine the Senator’s design, integrating active protection systems, upgraded ballistic shielding, and enhanced crew survivability features to adapt to evolving battlefield threats.