Roshel Provides New Look At Revamped Lineup

Noah Note

Welp, it's my second Roshel post in a week! After months of not doing it, I am now given the opportunity to once again engage with one of Canada's all-stars. You guys really love Roshel, like a lot. I was surprised by how many of you wanted more Roshel content.

Well, luckily for you, the company has delivered on your desires. While CANSEC primarily focused on a few key details for the company, primarily the launch of the new SENLUV and showcasing the company's new independent suspension system, Vampire CUAS Senator, and ExtremV, the company has also launched a soft refresh of their lineup that has gone slightly unnoticed.

Hidden away from the floor, Roshel quietly revealed what is their updated lineup for the company, including the Senator, Captain, Admiral, and ExtremV families. This new lineup was showcased in a booklet given out at the event, revealing several new additions to the roster as well as updated variants for several platforms.

While I knew myself that Roshel was planning some surprises, I was generally shocked to see such a major expansion and relaunch from the company. Old platforms are gone, new ones are shown off, and overall the company looks to be rebuilding a comprehensive roster of vehicles for the Tier-II and support vehicle category.

Since you guys like Roshel so much, I thought I would go over these changes for you and showcase all the new additions to the Roshel roster! First, let's start with the older platforms.

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The Senator Pickup (SENUP)

While the SENRAP gets the most love on a daily basis, it's the SENUP that is the primary workhorse for a lot of variants. Over the years, numerous variants of the Senator have been proposed, from various CUAS variants from Leonardo and MSPO to things like cable-laying vehicles to align with LUV.

Roshel has been playing with variants of the SENUP for a while now. The primary philosophy has always been built on utilizing the SENUP as the company's primary multi-variant platform, and that doesn't change at CANSEC. The company already showcased the Vampire-equipped CUAS Senator at CANSEC, the latest CUAS variant to enter the company's lineup.

However, the booklet Roshel has given out has revealed two additional variants: a recovery variant and one equipped with the ST Engineering Ground Deployed Advanced Mortar System (GDAMS).

A recovery variant of the Senator is far from new, mind you. The rumored existence of it has been discussed since 2023, when it was reported (by us) that it was one of the variants most requested by the Ukrainians, along with the SENMED and SENUP itself.

Organic fleet recovery is important in the modern battlespace, and relying on heavier recovery vehicles (like our future HX) isn't practical in every scenario, nor will every unit have reliable access to one. That is especially true if, for example, you plan to operate separate equipment concepts between different units or different components.

For someone like Roshel, who markets the Senator as a universal platform to build your support system and rear echelon around, utilizing a comparable vehicle, especially one that shares a common platform, is intrinsically valuable.

We've seen how a lack of recovery capability can quickly turn into a disaster in Ukraine. It has presented a severe bottleneck across the spectrum that has limited Ukraine's ability to turn damaged assets into recoverable assets, effectively ensuring that valuable equipment is lost not through destruction but through an inability to do anything.

Mala Tokmachka, Chasiv Yar… numerous times the story remains the same: a lack of recovery assets leads to unnecessary losses of major equipment. Many of these examples are in a category above the Senator, but the philosophy remains the same.

Lighter recovery assets still save equipment and help free up more capable vehicles for more important assets. It's a platform I wish we saw three years ago being marketed, but I'll take it now over anything. Almost any PMV, in my opinion, should have an equal recovery variant available beyond just a winch system.

The recovery variant as featured is hard to discuss. I asked many questions to the Roshel team, but not about this one. We can see it utilizes a light tactical recovery boom, but I could not tell you its specs. I am happy to see it come to existence, though, and for it to be properly advertised.

The GDAMS is another interesting variant. Mortar variants of vehicles like the Senator are common, very common, but this is the first dedicated advertisement from Roshel showing it off. Of course, Roshel and ST have a long history of collaboration with the ExtremV, so further expanding on that partnership by utilizing GDAMS, especially given IFM's desires for a vehicle-mounted 81mm mortar system, makes sense.

Not that I think this is solely an IFM decision or anything, but it is noted. Anyways, the Ground Deployed Advanced Mortar System, or GDAMS, is a highly mobile 81/120mm mortar system.

It is a relatively lightweight setup, weighing in at 700 kg with a 1.8-meter barrel. The system can be fully deployed or stowed away in anywhere from 15 to 25 seconds, allowing for vehicles to utilize it in a shoot-and-scoot capability. The mortar operates with a standard drop-fire mechanism and only requires a two-person crew to run it efficiently.

When it comes to laying down fire, it features an elevation range of 45 to 80 degrees and a traverse range of ±90 degrees. It can hit a maximum firing rate of 15 rounds per minute for three minutes, and then settle into a sustained rate of four rounds per minute for up to 20 minutes.

A major engineering highlight is its hydromechanic hinge system, which lowers the baseplate directly onto the ground so that almost no recoil force gets transferred into the host vehicle.

This specific design choice makes the GDAMS platform-agnostic, meaning it can be easily mounted onto a wide variety of standard 4x4 vehicles, both heavy and light. It is capable of reaching targets at extended ranges of up to 9 kilometers using various standard munitions, and it utilizes a patented blast diffuser to significantly reduce noise and keep the crew safe.

Mortar carriers for vehicles like this aren't uncommon at all; however, again, the Senator has surprisingly been docile on variants. It has had them, but not nearly as much as others. Despite that, Roshel is slowly catching up with these, plus the existing variants not listed.

It adds some much-needed concepts and adds some extra depth to the platform even if not technically significant or unique among itself. Still nice to see. The Vampire variant is just a SENUP with Vampire… I don't know what to say. Shoots Hydra, makes drones go boom.

Anyways, moving on from the SENUP…

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Senator LUV (SENLUV)

This is a bit of a repost from yesterday; however, I wanted to repost this. There is no doubt that the SENLUV took over the show as Roshel's highlight. The SENLUV, as a concept, has existed for a while. It was used as a sorta other title for the Senator SMP, which is NOT highlighted anywhere.

That version of the Senator is now in limbo as the name had been reallocated to the new Senator LUV, and the SMP seemingly once again forgotten. To recap from yesterday… The Senator LUV is an F-550-based platform like the other Senators, but instead of utilizing a monocoque capsule, it retains its primary Ford chassis to remain as COTS as possible.

The SENLUV features STANAG II level ballistic and blast protection, utilizing a V-shaped hull and add-on armour kit. To this, the kit primarily focuses on removing key components (doors, windows, etc.) and replacing them with armoured versions if needed. According to Roshel, it takes about two hours, with minimal heavy equipment, to fully transition a SENLUV from unarmoured to armoured, although calling it unarmoured isn't entirely accurate. Even without the kit, it very much is.

It comes in both single and double cab configurations, utilizing the 6.7L V8. It can be equipped with a manual or electric turret, night vision system, run-flat system, and CBRN protection, just the same as the Senator.

The SENLUV can support payloads of upwards of 4t, allowing for it to carry significant payloads or customizable modules if required. It can also come equipped with Roshel's new independent suspension system.

Compared to the SENUP, the SENLUV is slightly smaller; with both being based off the F-550, their lengths and widths remain fairly even. The SENLUV is about half a meter shorter in height and has a significantly lower ground clearance when compared to the SENUP with the independent suspension.

Beyond that, both benefit from the shared engine, drivetrain, etc. They both have similar ranges and fuel capacities, obviously. The SENLUV, though, is reportedly fairly cheaper, utilizing fewer modifications compared to the SENUP to keep it as COTS as possible.

Variants of the SENLUV could include things like recovery, CUAS, or medical evacuation in the future, similar to her larger sister. Overall, Roshel presents one of the more interesting minimally modified vehicles on the market, providing PMV-level protections in a platform that retains the general size and appearance of the F-550.

It forgoes traditional heavier add-on kits or a dedicated capsule like the rest of the Senator lineup, creating, from what I know, the only such vehicle in its class, all while retaining an upwards of 4-ton payload capacity, depending on the variant.

Roshel is offering the LUV for Phase I and potentially Phase II of… well, LUV… That should be a bit clearer. Either way, the SENLUV makes Phase I a lot more interesting with Ford in Oakville ramping up Super Duty production, putting a direct competitor to the GM LUV, which until now has dominated the Phase I conversation.

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Admiral MRAP

This one is the most surprising. The Admiral has been rebranded. Instead of the Kenworth previously rumored and leaked, the company is instead advertising the Admiral as a Mamba copy.

If you remember, the company had acquired the rights to another company in South Africa. That was the Panzer KF411, itself a copy of the Mamba MK.5, so there is a bit of a weird thing going on. Both seemingly share the same base Iveco chassis, the same 5.9L inline-6 diesel engine, and likely both the same 6-speed automatic transmission.

The Admiral, though, is longer (6.135 m vs 5.24 m), wider (2.644 m vs 2.45 m), and taller (2.8 m vs 2.6 m) than the Mamba Mk5, making it a physically larger vehicle overall. It also benefits from a longer wheelbase (3.398 m vs 3.25 m) and higher maximum ground clearance (0.55 m vs 0.43 m).

The Admiral could be described as a Mamba MK.5+? I have no clue if Roshel plans to continue with a Kenworth-based vehicle or if it is dead. The Admiral likely fills two roles, providing a dedicated MRAP to the company's roster while also providing a familiar platform that is already in service across the globe in different forms.

Tapping into the market—both to existing users and organizations like the UN or AU, who are known heavy users—or even just offering it as a potential higher option above the Senator has its advantages for the company. I can (as I have) understand the appeal of trying to jump in with it, even in spite of the many Mamba copies floating around and Osprea themselves.

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The other changes (CAPUP and SENMED)

Separate from these more massive changes, I also want to highlight a few other things. We have a Captain Pickup, finally, for those who want a smaller, lighter, but still armoured logistic platform below a traditional F-550, Hilux, or Silverado.

I have wanted a Captain pickup forever. I am VERY, VERY happy to see it come to fruition. It is a simple thing, basic, but a lot of basic things in this industry I feel get missed or pushed to the side, so when I see simple stuff like this, I get happy.

Lastly for today, we have the Senator Medvac. This is the first time Roshel has shown off what an actual configured variant could look like. Previous models of the SENMED have been basic, by choice. Roshel basically provided the chassis and allowed people to do as they wish.

This is a concept of what could be offered, utilizing a Frestems evacuation system paired with the ProMil Wheels stretcher system, a one-man, 38kg stretcher system. I believe the model shown was a ProMil 360. I got the demonstration and was seriously impressed by how responsive it was and how light the stretcher was. My first time seeing a Frestems system in the wild!

That version comes with a 2- and 4-bed variant. Roshel had a 2-bed variant on display. Certainly an upgrade over something like an LSVW, I'll say that much.

Overall, Roshel presented a very good showing of their new lineup. It was a soft refresh in my eyes, unifying the core product line around a few core systems: ExtremV, Senator, Captain, and Admiral, each with their own distinct capabilities and variants.

Between the Senator family, there is now both a light and heavier option available with the introduction of the SENLUV, allowing some variation to the platform one desires while retaining the same core chassis. A Senator too big or too much? The SENLUV is available. Need smaller? The Captain now has both an APC and utility variant available.

That isn't to say that there isn't more coming. The Senator 8x8 is still in the works. There are rumors of a new Ford Ranger-based vehicle in the works. Time will tell what that brings, but overall, I think this is a really nice, really well-developed lineup for the company.

I can't think of much missing, and combined with their other investments, including their new partnership with Algoma Steel, the company is really working hard to set themselves up for LUV in a way I don't know if others will be able to match.