Ukraine begins testing StarGate drone for evacuating wounded soldiers

Ukrainian defense technology company SkyFall has developed the StarGate drone to evacuate wounded soldiers from hard-to-reach positions. This week, the drone was handed over to a combat brigade for testing in front-line conditions.

This is reported by the Associated Press .

StarGate was developed over a year at the request of the military, who needed a safer way to evacuate the wounded from positions that were difficult to reach by ground transport. The development was initiated by the commander of the 475th separate assault regiment, call sign Flint.

In some areas of the front, the so-called hit zone, where artillery and drones are constantly threatening, extends for 10-15 kilometers or more. The one-way range of the StarGate is 15 kilometers, potentially allowing it to reach the wounded deep within this zone.

The drone is equipped with a medical module with a stretcher and can carry cargo weighing up to 150 kilograms. Its cruising speed is 65 kilometers per hour, and the maximum speed is 105 kilometers per hour. According to the developer, preparing the device for flight takes about 10 minutes.

One of the main tasks during development was to ensure control of the drone in conditions of electronic warfare, when communication or GPS is disrupted. StarGate uses 2 communication channels – Starlink and its own L-Link system, as well as artificial intelligence functions to work in the absence of satellite navigation.

If communication is lost completely, the drone can, according to the company, independently navigate to a safe area. It is also designed to operate in rain and snow and is equipped with thermal imaging cameras for night flights.

During the demonstration, StarGate was tested in simulated air attack conditions. When a strike drone approached it, the device released a net that captured the target and deflected it off course.

Ukraine is testing the StarGate drone for evacuating the wounded.

Video: Associated Press https://t.co/WeWt81apDd

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The developer also claims that the drone can continue flying after losing one of its arms. However, the company has not yet provided data on the reliability of the device in combat conditions.

SkyFall estimates that the cost of one complex will be at least $50,000, depending on the configuration. The company plans to start producing up to 1,000 such drones per month by the end of 2026.

The commander of the unit with the call sign KVN noted that the military needs at least a month of practical use to assess the effectiveness of StarGate.

“This is a completely new evacuation method,” he said, adding that it was too early to assess the system’s advantages and disadvantages in detail.

SkyFall confirmed that the combat team is testing StarGate, but the test results are not being disclosed.