Ratel Robotics and General Dynamics Mission Systems to jointly produce UGVs for Ukraine in Canada

Ukrainian defence company Ratel Robotics and Canadian company General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada have signed a memorandum of cooperation. The agreement provides for the joint production of unmanned ground vehicles for Ukraine, the companies declare.

The companies signed the memorandum as part of the Build with Ukraine initiative. The parties also plan to cooperate on joint product and technology development, as well as specialist training. General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada will provide manufacturing and engineering capabilities, including expertise in vehicle electronics, while Ratel Robotics will contribute its experience in developing and deploying UGVs.

“We are becoming an even more international business! Soon there will be more RATELs, and they will be manufactured in Canada for the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Ratel Robotics founder Taras Ostapchuk wrote.

The companies noted that unmanned ground vehicles are increasingly being used for dangerous and repetitive tasks on the battlefield, including logistics and casualty evacuation.

Since 2023, Ratel Robotics has developed and manufactured unmanned ground vehicles for logistics, evacuation, strike and engineering missions. The company also develops unmanned aerial systems and autonomous control technologies. On 10 September, Ukrainian-American company Swarmer announced plans to acquire Ratel Robotics for $224 million, to be paid in cash and shares.

Headquartered in Ottawa, General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada specialises in communications systems, sonar, anti-submarine warfare and remotely piloted and autonomous systems. The company is one of Canada’s largest defence organisations and a systems integrator for maritime, air, land and cyber operations.

It was previously reported that General Dynamics Mission Systems had signed a cooperation agreement with Ukrainian defence company GreenTech.