Roshel and Swebor Partner To Build Canada’s First Ballistic Steel Facility With Transatlantic Defense Impact.

On August 19, 2025, Roshel, the Canadian armored vehicle manufacturer, and Swedish steel producer Swebor signed in Stockholm a strategic partnership to establish Canada’s first facility dedicated to the production of ballistic-grade steel, as reported by Roshel. The project addresses a long-standing supply gap for high-performance protection materials and has been presented as a milestone for Canada’s defense industrial sovereignty. By combining Swedish expertise and Canadian resources, the agreement introduces a new manufacturing capability with both national and transatlantic implications.
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Roshel’s armored vehicles, particularly the Senator series, have been central to its international reputation, and through the creation of Canada’s first dedicated ballistic steel capability with Swebor, the company is reshaping the North American defense industrial landscape (Picture source: Roshel)

The facility will specialize in advanced ballistic steel production, including high-hardness alloys, quenched and tempered plates, and armor-grade materials tested to NATO STANAG standards. According to Roshel, this will allow the company to become the first armored vehicle manufacturer globally to oversee the full cycle in-house, from raw steel to final assembly of vehicles. Such vertical integration offers resilience in a sector where precision, durability, and rapid delivery are critical. The intellectual property of the facility will be jointly held, ensuring shared innovation and long-term collaboration between the Canadian and Swedish partners.

Roshel’s armored vehicles, particularly the Senator series, have been central to its international reputation. Widely deployed by Ukrainian forces since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, they have proven their effectiveness in combat conditions ranging from border security operations to urban warfare. With over 1,800 vehicles delivered to Ukraine under military aid packages, including 1,500 produced in 2024 alone at Roshel’s Ontario plant, the company has emerged as one of Kyiv’s key industrial supporters. The operational experience of these platforms has accelerated Roshel’s development cycle, pushing forward new designs such as the Light Utility Vehicle (LUV) program and the Defence Arctic Mobility Enhancement (DAME) program for Canadian requirements.

The strategic implications of the new ballistic steel plant go beyond production efficiency. Canada will reduce its reliance on imported armor-grade materials, strengthening supply chain security at a time when international logistics remain vulnerable to geopolitical shocks. For Sweden, the partnership demonstrates how its industry can project expertise abroad while consolidating ties with a NATO ally. From a military standpoint, the initiative ensures that future Canadian armored platforms, whether for domestic forces or for export, can incorporate higher levels of national content, a critical factor in fulfilling Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) requirements under defense contracts.

The budgetary framework of the project has not been disclosed, but Canadian government participation underscores strong public backing. Officials including Mélanie Joly, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State for Defence Procurement, were present at the signing, framing the initiative as both an industrial and strategic investment. Recent deliveries of Roshel vehicles to Ukraine have been financed through Western military assistance packages, while Ottawa itself has procured fleets of Senators for law enforcement and federal agencies. This suggests that the new steel capacity will serve both foreign contracts and domestic defense programs, securing long-term demand.

By creating Canada’s first dedicated ballistic steel capability, Roshel and Swebor are reshaping the North American defense industrial landscape. The project enhances economic security, guarantees skilled employment, and ensures operational independence for armored vehicle production. At a time when defense supply chains are under mounting pressure, the initiative represents a decisive move to anchor sovereignty and resilience at the core of Canada’s defense sector.