Ukraine's 475th Regiment Tests 150 kg Cargo Drone for Battlefield Medevac

Ukrainian forces completed two combat medical evacuations using a heavy-lift cargo drone within a seven-day period.

The 475th Separate Assault Regiment, operating under the designation CODE 9.2, utilized the StarGate aircraft to retrieve two injured soldiers from the grey zone near the Russian border. The patients, identified as 25-year-old Yevhen (callsign Izium) and 24-year-old Artem (callsign Kolobok), suffered severe limb injuries in a sector approximately 5 km from the front line.

The regiment stated that ground extraction was impossible due to difficult terrain, water obstacles, and the threat of enemy FPV drones. To execute the missions, the unit coordinated with SkyFall, the manufacturer of the StarGate drone, for one week. The operation required fire support and involved Vampire attack drones to suppress Russian positions.

During one extraction, the StarGate flew nearly 30 km to reach the casualty and a similar distance back with the soldier on board. The Russian military deployed electronic warfare systems in the area to disrupt satellite navigation signals. The drone completed the mission using an AI-based navigation system that functions without GPS.

The StarGate aircraft has a maximum range of 30 km and a payload capacity of 150 kg. For medical operations, it carries a dedicated capsule with a stretcher. The remotely operated vehicle reaches a top speed of 105 km/h and is designed to operate effectively under electronic interference.

Oleksandr Nastenko, the regiment's commander, said the experience will lead to the creation of a dedicated medical aviation unit. He stated that the new division will specialize in aerial evacuation of wounded troops. SkyFall previously handed the drone to the military for frontline testing after developing it for casualty evacuation.

A separate aerial evacuation was reported on 19 October using a drone made by Gurzuf Defence. This marks the first instance of a Ukrainian military operation using an aerial drone for this specific purpose.