Roshel, one of the world's leading manufacturers of advanced armoured vehicles, and Swedish steel producer Swebor, internationally recognized for its expertise in advanced alloyed and ballistic steels, signed a strategic partnership agreement to establish Canada's first facility dedicated to production of ballistic-grade steel.
"We are delighted to be bringing advanced manufacturing in Canada, which will leverage Canadian mined iron ore, and our domestic steel production to produce ballistic steel," stated Roman Shimonov, CEO of Roshel.
"This is an excellent, new collaboration between Sweden and Canada. We are keen to advance bilateral cooperation, such as this project," added Hans Bergman, Chairman of the Board of Swebor.
The signing took place in the presence of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry of Canada, underscoring the Government of Canada's strong support for this partnership, which will leverage Swedish expertise and Canadian natural resources and production capacity to address a significant production gap in terms of strategic industrial capability, sovereignty, and national defence readiness.
The project will create high-value, skilled jobs, introduce advanced manufacturing technologies, and provide significant economic benefits to Canada's industrial sector. By establishing a new segment within the steel manufacturing industry, it will foster long-term employment, support supplier networks, and encourage innovation across related industries.
Although other forms of steel manufacturing exist in Canada, this project will be the first fully dedicated to ballistic-grade production. It combines advanced technologies, strict quality standards, and strategic importance for the national defence industrial base. Intellectual property for the new facility will be jointly held by Roshel and Swebor, ensuring shared innovation and long-term collaboration.
Roman Shimonov, CEO of Roshel, said:
This project goes beyond steel – it is about establishing industrial sovereignty. By bringing ballistic steel production to Canada, we are reducing a critical dependency, protecting our supply chain, and laying the groundwork for long-term resilience in the defence and manufacturing sectors. Roshel is actively engaged in several programs within the armoured vehicle industry, including domestic initiatives like the Light Utility Vehicle (LUV) program and Defence Arctic Mobility Enhancement (DAME) program, as well as various international contracts, all of which require substantial volumes of ballistic steel. With this new capability, we will be able to increase Canadian content in our platforms and generate additional value in meeting Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) commitments for our clients.
Hans Bergman, Chairman of the Board of Swebor, said:
Our partnership with Roshel demonstrates a shared commitment to innovation and self-reliance. This facility will not only meet Canada's strategic needs but also exemplify how allied nations can collaborate to enhance their industrial capabilities.
