John Cockerill Defense (JCD) is set to modernize 113 vehicles for Ukraine, converting them into ambulance versions.
The project, which builds on previous modernization efforts for M113 armored vehicles and Bv 206 tracked vehicles in 2023 and 2024, includes the refurbishment of 11 Bv 206 amphibious all-terrain vehicles and 102 Unimog 4000 trucks, as reported by Forces Operations Blog on October 15. The entire batch of 113 vehicles will be modified into ambulances and delivered to the Ukrainian forces.
“In a war where mobility and the ability to save lives are crucial, every ambulance, every truck, can prove decisive. We are strengthening not only the logistics of the Ukrainian forces, but also their ability to protect and care for their soldiers,” Belgian Minister of Defense Theo Francken stated last July, after the government approved the new package.
While JCD has prior experience with the Bv 206, the adaptation of the Unimog presents a new challenge. The Liège-based manufacturer is receiving support from Mercedes, the German manufacturer, and the Belgian group Lambert, the Unimog importer in Belgium, who will supply essential parts for the overhaul.
According to Forces Operation Blog, due to the urgent need, JCD expects the first deliveries by the end of this year, with the remaining vehicles to follow in the first months of 2026.
The Minister of Defense has repeatedly affirmed that support for Ukraine “will continue for as long as necessary.” However, JCD stresses the need for an accelerated contracting process to ensure swifter delivery to the Ukrainian ally. The Ministry of Defense is already planning further aid tranches for 2026, an initiative that could draw interest from other NATO members with large stockpiles of BV 206s, Forces Operation Blog reported.
Earlier, Canadian defense company Roshel and the Italian aerospace leader Leonardo announced their joint creation: a new mobile system designed to counter drone threats on the modern battlefield.
This innovative vehicle is built on Roshel’s Senator Pickup MRAP—an armored truck already seeing action with the Ukrainian Armed Forces—and features Leonardo’s advanced Falcon Shield counter-drone system.
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