Based in Sault Ste. Marie, RADS aims to establish a “Center of Excellence” focused on ballistic steel production. The joint venture will provide domestic solutions to Canada’s defense industry through fully integrated manufacturing capabilities, including metal fabrication, forming, welding, and processing.
The collaboration comes at a time when the Canadian government is increasing defense spending and prioritizing policies to strengthen domestic industrial capacity. The new venture is seen as aligned with strategies encouraging the preference for “Made in Canada” products, particularly in major defense procurements.
RADS will produce domestic ballistic steel for a wide range of defense needs, including the Light Utility Vehicle (LUV) and Domestic Arctic Mobility Enhancement (DAME) programs, as well as ship and submarine projects. It also aims to create export opportunities to allied countries for products used in infrastructure, maritime, aerospace, and security platforms.
Algoma Steel CEO Rajat Marwah stated that the company is positioning its production capacity and workforce to directly serve Canada’s national security, adding, “The ‘Buy Canadian’ approach is not only a policy for us, but also a reflection of our commitment to employment.”
Roshel CEO Roman Shimonov highlighted that the planned procurement of Light Utility Vehicles for the Canadian Armed Forces presents a significant opportunity for the company, emphasizing their goal of developing a fully Canada-based solution using domestically produced ballistic steel in Ontario.
The new joint venture is expected to create employment for more than 500 people and strengthen Canada’s industrial workforce in the long term. It is also anticipated to contribute to local supply chains linked to manufacturers such as Ford Motor Company operating in the automotive sector.
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