Roshel Smart Armored Vehicles and Swedish steel producer Swebor have announced a new partnership to manufacture ballistic-grade steel in Canada, marking the first facility of its kind in the country.
Maria Tkacheva, Chief Operating Officer at Roshel Smart Armored Vehicles, said in a statement: “Roshel and Sweden’s Swebor have signed a strategic partnership to establish Canada’s first facility dedicated to ballistic-grade steel production.”
The agreement was signed in Stockholm in the presence of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and Stephen Fuhr PC MP CD, Secretary of State, Defence Procurement. Their attendance underscored the growing importance of Canada–Europe defense and industrial cooperation.
According to Roshel, the project will strengthen Canada’s defense industrial base, create skilled jobs, and enhance supply chain security. The company emphasized that the initiative will allow Roshel to become the first armored vehicle manufacturer worldwide to oversee the full production cycle in-house — from raw ballistic steel to final assembly.
As noted by Tkacheva, the move secures a domestic source of critical materials at a time when global defense supply chains face increased pressure. By producing ballistic-grade steel in Canada, Roshel aims to reduce dependency on external suppliers and speed up armored vehicle production for both Canadian and international customers.
The presence of senior Canadian officials at the signing highlighted the project’s diplomatic weight. The Ministry of Innovation, Science and Industry described the partnership as a step toward deepening transatlantic defense ties. In Stockholm, both governments pointed to the project as an example of how industry collaboration can reinforce long-term security.
For Swebor, a supplier with decades of experience in advanced steel production, the partnership represents an opportunity to transfer expertise to North America. According to the announcement, the new Canadian facility will combine Swebor’s technical knowledge with Roshel’s expanding armored vehicle production capacity.
Roshel has become a central supplier of armored vehicles to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The Canadian company’s Senator vehicles are widely deployed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the State Border Guard Service.
In 2024 alone, Roshel’s Ontario plant produced 1,500 Senator armored vehicles, with half delivered to Ukraine, company data shows. Since 2022, more than 1,800 Roshel vehicles have been supplied to Ukrainian forces under military aid packages.
The company says the demand for its vehicles has grown steadily. The new ballistic steel production line is expected to further streamline deliveries.