The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence has commissioned Rheinmetall to deliver eight additional Forward Surgical Team stations (FSTs) for the country`s armed forces, the company announced on 9 August 2024.
Deliveries are expected to begin in 2024 and to be completed by the end of 2026.
The order comprises eight turnkey-ready systems equipped with highly modern medical technology, including an x-ray-container, an operating theatre and a unit for intensive care to the standard of a modern hospital. For transporting each rescue unit, Rheinmetall also delivers a mobile component consisting of three HGVs from Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMW), including the trailers. The order is valued in the medium double-digit-million-Euro range.
The FSTs are container-based rescue units for mounted operations, consisting of six containers each. Five of these are connected to each other while in operation and have a reception, a triage-area, an x-ray-shelter, a surgery preparation area, a surgery-shelter as well as an intensive care unit. The support container has a power generator and water tanks that can keep the system in service independently for at least 48 hours.
Concerning the production of these systems, Rheinmetall co-operates with renowned German manufacturers from the medical technology sector. Intended for use on the front line, the FSTs’ life-sustaining capabilities can be applied to severely injured troops within a very short time and the patients stabilised.
“The medical care facilities from Rheinmetall are highly mobile, very fast operational and quality-wise on the highest standard,” Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger was quoted as saying in a company press release. “The newly placed order underlines that our first deliveries to the Ukraine concerning medical technology have proven their worth. We are happy to play an important part in supporting the Ukrainian forces also with our medical aid.”
In addition to the delivery of FST rescue units, it is also envisaged that Ukrainian personnel will be given a week’s training in Germany.
In September 2023 Rheinmetall handed over to Ukraine a mobile field hospital (NATO Role 2 standard) with 32 beds for patients, of which eight are for intensive care. At the time 10 Ukrainian soldiers underwent a two-week training period regarding assembly and disassembly as well as transportation and operation of the hospital.
