Ukraine receives Canada’s first ACSV armored vehicles: Details

Ukraine continues to receive military aid from Canada: all 50 modern ACSV Super Bison armored personnel carriers, promised by Ottawa two years ago, are expected to arrive by the end of 2025. The first eight vehicles have already been delivered to Poland and will soon be sent to Ukrainian territory.

The delivery of armored vehicles is part of a larger military support package, which also includes weapons, ammunition, medical equipment, and electronic warfare systems.

Canada delivers armored vehicles to Ukraine

During a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format, Canadian Minister of National Defence David McGuinty confirmed that the first eight ACSV vehicles are already in Europe.

“Eight Armoured Combat Support Vehicles (ACSVs) were delivered to Poland and are on their way to Ukraine,” the minister said. He noted that Canadian assistance is intended to strengthen the capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces amid ongoing Russian aggression.

Contents of the military aid package

The support package announced by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is estimated at several billion dollars. It includes:

• CAD 835 million for armored vehicles, small arms, spare parts, medical supplies, and ammunition;
• CAD 680 million (USD 500 million) under the PURL program for military equipment procurement;
• CAD 220 million for drones, counter-drone systems, and electronic warfare, including joint projects with Ukrainian enterprises;
• CAD 100 million for ammunition supply under a Czech initiative;
• CAD 165 million for projects within defense coalitions.

Characteristics of the Super Bison

The Armoured Combat Support Vehicle (ACSV), known as Super Bison, belongs to the fourth generation of wheeled armored vehicles. Ukraine became the third country, after Canada and Saudi Arabia, to receive these APCs.

The vehicle is distinguished by high mobility and protection: its armor can withstand 14.5 mm bullets and 30 mm shells on the frontal projection, with provisions for additional armor. It can reach speeds of up to 100 km/h on roads, cross trenches up to 2 m wide, and vertical obstacles up to 60 cm.

The Super Bison is produced in eight variants, from medical and command vehicles to engineering complexes and evacuation vehicles. Armament includes twin 7.62 mm machine guns, the option to mount a grenade launcher, and modern fire control systems with thermal imaging and laser rangefinders.

Canada has also intensified economic pressure on Russia by lowering the price cap on Russian oil by 12%. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne noted that this aims to reduce Moscow’s export revenues and limit its ability to finance the war against Ukraine.

The Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced new sanctions against 16 individuals and two companies connected to Moldovan fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor, who holds pro-Russian positions.