The French company Texelis has reached an agreement with an unnamed Ukrainian enterprise to jointly develop a family of armored vehicles built on the Celeris chassis.
According to La Tribune, the two sides have signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The new vehicles are expected to be based on the already proven solution used in the Serval vehicles currently in service with the French Armed Forces.
Read more: Ukrainian Armor LLC is Ready to Mass-Produce Varta-2 APC, Integrated With Sich 30mm Gun Turret
However, the statement includes a somewhat unclear point. Texelis marketing director Marin Tolle noted that the company is currently offering its chassis to Ukraine, while the post-conflict period will allow for the development of armored vehicles according to NATO standards. This could be interpreted to mean that cooperation might not begin until the war is over.
Most likely, this is not entirely the case. The statement probably refers to the future development of entirely new vehicles, possibly on a different platform. At the same time, the Celeris chassis can already be used in Ukraine (and even localized).
While using a foreign platform for a Ukrainian armored vehicle may seem controversial, in practice, almost all domestically produced armored vehicles are based on this approach. Some of them use commercial chassis, such as the Ford F-550, while others rely on purpose-built solutions like the custom-designed Base platform used in the Varta-2.
The Celeris chassis was not developed specifically for Ukrainian requirements, which could raise concerns about its suitability and performance in combat. On the other hand, the Serval armored vehicles based on this chassis are already being actively delivered to the French Armed Forces and draw on lessons learned from previous operational experience.
In terms of capabilities, the Texelis product is powered by a 375 hp Cummins ISL9 Euro 3 engine, paired with an Allison 3200SP transmission. This is a fairly standard powertrain on the market and allows for a potential top speed of over 100 km/h, depending on the vehicle’s configuration.
As for dimensions, the Celeris chassis supports the development of armored vehicles weighing between 13 and 18.5 tonnes. This places it in the same weight class as platforms like the UAT.GYURZA-02 or Inguar-3. The chassis itself weighs 3.5 tonnes without wheels.
It is currently difficult to predict how successful the project will be, given the already intense competition within Ukraine’s armored vehicle market. On the other hand, Texelis is offering localized production, which could significantly strengthen Ukraine’s defense industry. This sector still remains heavily dependent on imports.
Read more: French VAB Mk3 Fights in Ukraine Equipped With Locally-Made Sich Turret (Photo)
