Canada's Roshel Continues to Respond to Military Demand with New Senator Counter-Drone Vehicle.

On May 26, 2025, during the CANSEC 2025 defense exhibition in Ottawa, Roshel formally introduced a new vehicle platform dedicated to countering Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS). The Senator Counter-UAS vehicle integrates Leonardo’s Falcon Shield Mobile system. Developed entirely in Canada at Roshel’s facility in Ontario, the vehicle is intended to detect, track, identify, and neutralize a broad range of UAS threats. According to Roshel, the platform is interoperable with NATO command-and-control (C2) systems and can be deployed for convoy protection, remote surveillance, or static defensive roles. The integration of Falcon Shield provides real-time electronic and optical threat management with options for kinetic and non-kinetic countermeasures.
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The Senator Counter-UAS is interoperable with NATO command-and-control (C2) systems and can be deployed for convoy protection, remote surveillance, or static defensive roles to counter a broad range of drone threats. (Picture source: Roshel)

Roshel states that the Senator C-UAS, based on the existing Senator Pickup Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) variant, offers STANAG 4569 Level 2 ballistic protection and Level 3 blast protection, with a bolted crew capsule and mine-protected seating designed for ease of maintenance and occupant safety. The base vehicle configuration is built on the Ford F-550 chassis and features a 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine rated at 330 horsepower and 750 Nm of torque. The 4x4 drivetrain is paired with a 10-speed TorqShift automatic transmission. The Senator Pickup MRAP variant accommodates up to 10 personnel and includes optional equipment such as an electric winch with a 7-ton pulling capacity, an explosive gas and radiation detection system, and a lighting package with convoy and emergency modes. The platform is already in operational service and has been used in high-risk environments, including Ukraine, where over 1,800 Senator vehicles have been delivered since 2022. Of these, 90% were funded by foreign governments, and 10% were donated by Canada. Unit cost is estimated at approximately $600,000, and production capacity is currently set at 120 vehicles per month by a 500-employee workforce.

Leonardo’s Falcon Shield system is a scalable and modular CUAS suite configured for detection, tracking, identification, geolocation, and mitigation. Its features include radar with 360° or sector coverage, gyro-stabilized electro-optical payloads, high-resolution thermal and visible cameras, and eyesafe laser range finders. The system also incorporates AI-based automated threat classification, low false alarm rates, and geospatial interfaces for threat handoff. Electronic surveillance and electronic attack capabilities allow operators to detect and track UAVs and disrupt their command, control, or navigation systems. The open-standards-based Command, Control and Situational Awareness (C2SA) environment supports integration with other sensors and effectors, enabling use in distributed CUAS networks. Falcon Shield has been validated in operations by both the Royal Air Force and Canadian Armed Forces and can be deployed in fixed, relocatable, or mobile configurations.

The system enables protection in varied operational contexts, including urban areas, long-range surveillance zones, and high-risk public or government events. Falcon Shield Mobile, as adapted to the Senator Counter-UAS vehicle, provides fully mobile counter-UAS functionality, supporting dismounted or vehicle-based C2 nodes. It allows threat evaluation and confirmation at ranges beyond direct threat engagement distance and includes modular options for future upgrades or additional sensor integration. According to Leonardo, its capabilities are suitable for defending military forces, critical infrastructure, and sensitive zones through fixed-site or vehicle-mounted configurations. The system is built around a modular open architecture and supports deployment in multi-layered defense environments using combinations of radar, EO/IR sensors, and electronic warfare.

The Roshel Senator platform has been produced since 2018 in multiple configurations, including Armored Personnel Carrier (APC), MRAP, Emergency Response Vehicle, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), and Medical Evacuation Vehicle. The MRAP variant was introduced in 2023 with a monocoque double V-hull and insulation systems for acoustic and thermal protection. It offers a payload capacity of 2,000 kilograms and is designed to accommodate additional mission systems or armament packages. Senator vehicles have also been employed in non-combat roles, including during the Crew Dragon Demo-2 astronaut transport mission in 2020. The platform is used by various police and military forces worldwide, including in South Korea, Costa Rica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United States, and Ukraine. As of March 2025, 56 Senator vehicles had been confirmed as destroyed, damaged, or captured in Ukraine, including 8 confirmed captured by Russian forces.

In Chile, the Senator is under evaluation as a potential 4x4 or 6x6 replacement for legacy 6x6 Piraña vehicles after a failed 2024 procurement, with considerations involving legal amendments and acquisition through the Canadian Commercial Corporation. Recent international deliveries include six units to Brazil's federal police, four Level 3 APCs and two Level 4 MRAPs, and five MRAPs to Bosnia's Sarajevo Canton police under a €1.38 million contract, with prior deliveries across other cantons. Roshel also developed the lighter Captain vehicle, based on the Toyota Land Cruiser 70, with Level 1 ballistic and Level 2 mine protection; 20 units were delivered to Haiti in February 2025 under a U.S.-funded program. Roshel manufactures in Ontario and Michigan, with plans for local production in Ukraine and proposed expansion to Germany.