Brazil’s Federal Military Police acquires Canadian-made Roshel Senator armored vehicles for Special Forces Operations.

As reported by InfoDefensa on April 29, 2025, the Government of the Federal District of Brazil has purchased six Roshel Senator armored vehicles for the Polícia Militar do Distrito Federal (PMDF), including both the Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) and Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) variants. The APC version will be assigned to the Riot Police Battalion (BPChoque), with four units equipped with Level 3 ballistic protection, while two MRAPs with Level 4 protection will be allocated to the Special Police Operations Battalion (BOPE).
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Four Senator APCs will be assigned to the Riot Police Battalion (BPChoque), while two Senator MRAPs will be allocated to the Special Police Operations Battalion (BOPE). (Picture source: Roshel)

This procurement aims to support the operational capacity of two specialized units of the PMDF amid the growing complexity of criminal organizations and the increased availability of military-grade weapons in illicit networks. The Roshel Senator’s protection capabilities include ballistic resistance from 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm rounds at velocities of 695 m/s, fired from a distance of 30 meters. Mine protection options allow for resistance to up to 6 kg of TNT-equivalent explosives under each wheel or the vehicle's center. The crew compartment and engine bay are protected to CEN B7 standards. Each vehicle includes an explosive gas and radiation detection system, a military-grade electric winch with a 7-ton pulling capacity, and shock-absorbing individual seats designed to mitigate the effects of explosions. The lighting system supports emergency and convoy modes.

The Senator is a Canadian 4x4 infantry mobility vehicle built on a modified Ford F-550 chassis, which includes components such as ballistic steel certified to military specifications, optional underbody protection against anti-tank mines and IEDs, and a V-shaped hull in the MRAP configuration to mitigate blast effects. In terms of observation and surveillance, these vehicles are equipped with integrated systems that include a high-resolution thermal vision camera, a long-range infrared beacon invisible to the naked eye, and multiple cameras around the vehicle for 360-degree situational awareness. The onboard communication system allows real-time data transmission to command and control centers via encrypted digital radios.

Production of the Roshel Senator takes place in Canada, where the company operates four facilities in Ontario. Roshel employs approximately 500 workers and maintains a capacity of up to 140 vehicles per month. The unit cost is approximately $600,000, and each vehicle requires about two weeks to assemble. The company recently opened a manufacturing facility in Shelby Township, Michigan, United States, which mirrors the Canadian operations and includes a service center for U.S. federal and government clients. The expansion in the U.S. is part of Roshel’s strategy to bring production closer to customers and improve support capabilities.

Since 2018, the Senator has been produced in various configurations, including APCs, MRAPs, emergency response vehicles, and explosive ordnance disposal units. The MRAP version, introduced in 2023, features a V-shaped monocoque hull, composite materials, and thermal and acoustic insulation. It is certified to NATO STANAG 4569 Level 2 for ballistic protection and Level 3A, 2b, and 2c for mine resistance. Powered by a 6.7-liter turbo diesel engine delivering 330 horsepower and 750 Nm of torque, the MRAP variant offers a range of 800 km and a payload capacity of 2,000 kg. It can accommodate up to 10 personnel and is compatible with a range of weapon systems, including remotely operated weapon stations and anti-tank guided missiles.

Since 2018, the Senator has been produced in various configurations, including APCs, MRAPs, emergency response vehicles, and explosive ordnance disposal units. (Picture source: Roshel)

More than 1,700 Roshel Senator vehicles have been delivered to Ukrainian defense forces since the Russian invasion began in 2022. These deliveries have occurred at an increasing pace: the 1,000th vehicle was delivered in December 2023, the 1,400th in September 2024, and the 1,700th by March 2025. The Senator has been used by Ukrainian units for various roles, including troop transport, medical evacuation, and command and staff missions. Ukrainian forces have reported the vehicle’s capacity to withstand attacks, including those involving FPV drones. In at least one incident, a Senator’s windshield resisted a direct impact from such a drone. The vehicle has also been seen in use by Russian forces following its capture in the Kursk region, where it was recovered and towed by a Z-STS Akhmat MRAP vehicle.

The Roshel Senator has also been acquired by the police forces of the Sarajevo Canton in Bosnia and Herzegovina. On September 24, 2024, three MRAP vehicles were presented publicly in Sarajevo. The contract, worth approximately €1.38 million, was signed in 2023, and plans are underway to purchase two additional units. The Sarajevo Police’s MRAPs are used for patrol, reconnaissance, command tasks, and support for special operations. Each vehicle includes multi-layer bullet-resistant glass, gunports, 360-degree external cameras, military-grade seating with four-point seatbelts, fire extinguishers, air conditioning, and a variety of optional equipment, including RCWS, CCTV systems, and CBRN sensors.

Roshel has also developed the Captain, a smaller 4x4 armored vehicle based on the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 chassis. The Captain was created to serve in areas where that chassis is already common and is designed for rapid deployment. It provides ballistic protection up to STANAG 4569 Level 1 and mine protection up to Level 2. The Captain has been deployed in Haiti as part of a U.S.-supported initiative, with twenty units transferred by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs in February 2025. It is powered by a 2.8L diesel engine generating 201 horsepower and 370 Nm of torque, with a six-speed automatic transmission, 4x4 drivetrain, and a fuel capacity of 180 liters. It is equipped to carry up to eight passengers and is certified to withstand 7.62×39 mm API BZ rounds at 30 meters and the effects of a 155 mm high-explosive shell at 80 meters.

Deliveries of Senator vehicles to Ukraine have occurred at an increasing pace: the 1,000th vehicle was delivered in December 2023, the 1,400th in September 2024, and the 1,700th by March 2025. (Picture source: Roshel)

In Latin America, the Chilean Army is currently evaluating the Senator 4x4 as a potential replacement for its aging Mowag Famae Piraña 6x6 vehicles. This evaluation is part of a revised procurement initiative following the cancellation of a 2024 tender due to financial and integration challenges. Although the original project aimed to acquire 40 8x8 armored vehicles, Chile is now considering 4x4 and 6x6 alternatives, with manufacturers from several countries—including Canada, Turkey, Finland, and Italy—responding to a request for information. The Chilean Army may procure the Senator directly through the Canadian Commercial Corporation. A delegation is scheduled to visit Roshel’s facilities for further assessment. However, legal amendments may be required to reallocate funds originally set aside for 8x8 vehicles.

Roshel’s CEO, Roman Shimonov, has proposed to the German government the immediate delivery of 100 Senator MRAPs for Ukraine, along with the construction of a manufacturing facility in Germany. This proposal follows delays in a planned German delivery of 400 MRAPs. According to Roshel, its vehicles are certified to NATO STANAG 4569 standards and priced at approximately €375,000 each—less than half the cost of some German alternatives. The company claims it can fulfill the 400-vehicle order within 2025 and has already supplied over 1,400 vehicles to Ukraine.

Roshel’s expansion into Ukraine also includes plans for local production. The company already maintains repair and maintenance facilities there and intends to manufacture armored vehicles domestically using a workforce that includes Ukrainian refugees trained in Canada. This approach seeks to lower production costs and improve logistical efficiency for European operations. Founded in 2016 by Roman Shimonov, a former Israeli Defense Forces member, Roshel has delivered multiple contracts ahead of schedule, including a $92 million CAD order for 200 Senator vehicles by the Canadian government for Ukraine. The company continues to expand its product line and international footprint, with exports to Costa Rica, South Korea, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and ongoing discussions in Latin America and Europe. Its armored vehicles are used for military, law enforcement, border security, and emergency response roles in several countries.