Canadian armored vehicle maker Roshel will expand production into the European market through a joint venture with Omnipol Group of the Czech Republic. The partnership agreement was signed during the IDET 2025 defense and security trade show last week in Brno, with Czechia government officials, led by President Petr Pavel, looking on.
The agreement calls for Czech production of Roshel’s Senator vehicle platform for mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles, armored personnel carriers and medical evacuation variants.
“The Czech Republic has a well-established tradition in both the defense and automotive sectors, making it a natural choice for expanding the production of the Senator vehicle line,” Roman Shimonov, CEO of Roshel, told Defence Industry Europe.
“Our aim is to build a lasting presence that contributes to the local economy, enhances the regional defense industry and strengthens supply capabilities across the European market.”
Multi-Mission APC Template
According to Roshel, more than 1,800 Senator vehicles are currently deployed in Ukraine. The company website describes Roshel’s flagship model, the Senator APC, as a multi-mission vehicle platform using innovative lightweight composite materials. Fully air-conditioned for harsh environments, the vehicle can be deployed for a wide variety of uses, including law enforcement, border patrol and medical evacuation.
For Omnipol President Jiri Podpera, the partnership’s goal is not only production but also a new direction in strengthening the Czech defense industry. “We see this cooperation not merely as a technical partnership but as a key step in our long-term strategic development,” he told Defence Industry Europe.