Ukraine is still waiting for the promised batch of over two dozen refurbished light armoured vehicles from Canada, as reported by CBC News. Despite the Department of National Defence handing over the decommissioned vehicles to a company in Ontario nearly two years ago for reconstruction, the vehicles are currently stuck in administrative and corporate delays.
The fate of the restoration deal, which was acknowledged around Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Ottawa, is now clouded in secrecy. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had previously mentioned that in addition to providing new light armoured vehicles, Canada was collaborating with Canadian industry to supply refurbished Canadian Armed Forces armoured vehicles.
The Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) identified the plan for “defence vehicles” produced by a “Canadian exporter” in its spring 2025 quarterly report, but the contract with Armatec Survivability in Dorchester, Ont., was omitted from the subsequent quarterly report. Both CCC and the Department of National Defence declined to provide details on the delay or the contract status when questioned by CBC News.
There are speculations within the defence community that the project may have been terminated, and Ukraine might not receive the reconstructed vehicles as promised. The federal government imposed a non-disclosure agreement on the company during negotiations, raising concerns from Conservative defence critic James Bezan, who believes the deal has fallen through.
Armatec, the company involved in the project, declined to explain the delay, citing confidentiality, and redirected inquiries to CCC. Despite the lack of clarity on the situation, the Defence Department emphasized its commitment to supporting Ukraine by delivering armoured combat support vehicles manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada.
Efforts to expedite other contracts through CCC to provide Ukraine with effective military capabilities without delays are underway. Armatec expressed readiness to supply infantry fighting vehicle upgrades to allies for defence purposes, emphasizing its Canadian roots and commitment to innovation.
DND previously confirmed plans to decommission numerous armoured vehicles, with Ukrainian officials advocating for access to these stocks and the swift completion of the Armatec contract. Ukrainian representatives expressed gratitude for Canadian aid packages and stressed the importance of timely delivery of all pledged military assistance from Canada.
