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Battle-Tested in Ukraine MRAP Just Got a Drone-Hunting Upgrade. Here’s What We Know

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Photo of Vlad Litnarovych
Vlad Litnarovych
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Battle-Tested in Ukraine MRAP Just Got a Drone-Hunting Upgrade. Here’s What We Know
Roshel Senator MRAP Counter-UAS system developed with Leonardo’s Falcon Shield system. (Source: Roshel)

Canadian defense firm Roshel and Italian aerospace giant Leonardo have jointly developed a new mobile platform for combating drone threats on the modern battlefield, Roshel reported on May 26.

The vehicle is based on the Senator Pickup Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP)—an armored vehicle already in active use by Ukraine’s Armed Forces—and is equipped with Leonardo’s Falcon Shield counter-drone system.

This integration enables the vehicle to detect, track, and neutralize a wide range of aerial threats, including drone swarms, reconnaissance platforms, and strike UAVs.

Roshel Senator MRAP Counter-UAS system developed with Leonardo’s Falcon Shield system. (Source: Roshel)
Roshel Senator MRAP Counter-UAS system developed with Leonardo’s Falcon Shield system. (Source: Roshel)

Leonardo’s Falcon Shield system uses specialized 360° surveillance radars, powerful electro-optical sensors, and electronic warfare capabilities to detect, identify, and disrupt drones. While it can be deployed in both static and mobile configurations, making it ideal for convoy protection and frontline operations, the modular nature of the system means it’s not limited to the Senator MRAP chassis—it can be mounted on various platforms or used in stationary installations, depending on the client’s needs.

Roshel’s armored vehicles have become a staple of Ukraine’s defense logistics. The company has already delivered over 1,800 Senator vehicles to Ukrainian forces, and production is ramping up further following a joint manufacturing agreement with Ukraine’s state defense conglomerate Ukroboronprom.

Leonardo’s Falcon Shield system, installed on a Roshel Senator MRAP. (Source: Roshel)
Leonardo’s Falcon Shield system, installed on a Roshel Senator MRAP. (Source: Roshel)

However, despite its strengths, the current version of the Falcon Shield showcased on the Senator MRAP lacks kinetic countermeasures—an increasingly critical feature in dealing with fiber-optically guided drones, which are immune to standard radio-frequency jamming.

While Leonardo says the Falcon Shield system can be integrated with kinetic weapons, the version seen so far features only electronic warfare components.

A Roshel Senator MRAP vehicle that sustained severe tire damage while transporting wounded soldiers in the Kharkiv region. Remarkably, the run-flat device installed on the vehicle prevented it from being immobilized, allowing the mission to continue successfully. (Source: defense-blog.com)
A Roshel Senator MRAP vehicle that sustained severe tire damage while transporting wounded soldiers in the Kharkiv region. Remarkably, the run-flat device installed on the vehicle prevented it from being immobilized, allowing the mission to continue successfully. (Source: defense-blog.com)

Due to the modular design of the Falcon Shield, Roshel and Leonardo have the flexibility to integrate kinetic weapons like anti-aircraft machine guns or automatic cannons in future iterations, giving the system potential for rapid adaptation to emerging threats.

Earlier, reports emerged that the United States transferred 150 Roshel MRAP armored vehicles to Ukraine in 2025, with another 40 currently on the way.

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