Ukrainian military receive Senator MRAP armored vehicles
21 October, 2023 Senator MRAP in the Ukrainian army, October 2023. Photo credits: Defense Blog/Artem Yushchuk The Ukrainian military have received a batch of new Senator armored vehicles in the MRAP variant.
Defense Blog reports on Saturday, October 21. The armored vehicles were supplied by the Canadian company Roshel Smart Armored Vehicles. It is noted that unlike the previous version, the new armored car has improved protection against detonation on mines, which provides additional advantages for the military when performing various combat tasks.
Roshel introduced a new version of the Senator armored vehicle in the MRAP variant at the end of May this year. At that time, the start of its production was reported as well.
Senator MRAP in the Ukrainian army, October 2023. Photo credits: Defense Blog/Artem Yushchuk
The vehicle was developed taking into account the experience of using the Senator as part of the Ukrainian Defense Forces during the war with Russia.
It is designed to accommodate up to 10 military personnel and provides a high level of protection against explosive devices and ambushes, ensuring safety of the crew. The new armored car has a V-shaped body bottom, and its cabin has special seats with shock absorption. Such solutions are designed to minimize the effect of explosion energy on the crew inside when detonated on an explosive device (mines, etc.).
Senator MRAP after testing.
A frame from the video of Roshel Defense Solutions
"You feel safer when you know that there is special protection under your feet against Russian mines," says the Ukrainian military, who is now driving the vehicle. Senator MRAP successfully passed a series of tests and demonstrated its suitability. The test was carried out according to standard STANAG 4569 AEP55 level 2 and 2a/2b.
Ballistic and explosion tests were carried out by a NATO-certified independent U.S. laboratory. The protection of the armored vehicle must withstand shelling with bullets of caliber up to 7.62x39 mm at a distance of 30 meters, as well as blowing up 6 kg of explosives (anti-tank mine) under any wheel or under the bottom of the vehicle.
Roshel Defense Solutions company`s SenatorAPC armored vehicles of the Ukrainian border guards.
December 2022. Ukraine. Photo credits: Suspilne
In January 2023, Militarnyi reported that Canada would transfer 200 Roshel Senator armored vehicles to Ukraine.
On the basis of this vehicle, a mobile command post for the Armed Forces of Ukraine was also created.