Abstract:
The Ukrainian military and drone manufacturer Gurzuf Defense said that the troops recently used a modified Heavy Shot Ayudag-6 six-rotor drone to lift a wounded person from a forward position that was inaccessible through the ground to a safe location. The Uzbek side calls this the first operation to directly evacuate the wounded from the frontline using aviation drones; a more reliable statement at present is that this is an open battlefield case that the Uzbek side calls "the world's first"
The injured member belonged to the 30th Independent Mechanized Brigade of Ukraine and was seriously injured. There were landmines in the area and faced threats from Russian drones. Regular ground evacuation would expose rescuers to danger. The manufacturer stated that he had been at the forward position for nearly 500 days, and his comrades had been delivering food, water, ammunition and medicine to him through drones for a long time. In this operation, the army first sent special equipment with carabiners to the wounded, and then dispatched a six-rotor drone equipped with an electric winch. With the continuous contact and guidance of comrades, the wounded were fixed on the lifting system by themselves, and the drone was carried to a safer location.
Ayudag-6 was originally a heavy-duty transportation and delivery platform. This time it was modified for manned lifting, including the installation of a winch and a special sling, and the flight stability was adjusted to reduce personnel swing. Public information states that the aircraft's fuselage weighs approximately 98 kilograms, and its conventional payload is approximately 70 to 90 kilograms. The specific capabilities will vary depending on the battery and range configuration. New Atlas claims that its maximum lifting capacity can reach 130 kilograms, but this is not the actual load of the mission, and the total weight of the wounded and equipment has not been announced.
Gurzuf Defense stated that the mission flew a total of 62 kilometers and lasted 1 hour, 14 minutes and 36 seconds. During the flight of the drone, military personnel monitor the airspace and provide electronic warfare cover. The wounded are eventually transported to a safe location, and then ground personnel relay them to the hospital. The injured are currently receiving treatment and recovery, and their lives are out of danger. Participating in the operation include the 10th Ukrainian Army, the 92nd Independent Assault Brigade, the 30th Independent Mechanized Brigade and the Gurzuf Defense team
This does not mean that drones can already replace battlefield ambulances or helicopters. The co-founder of Gurzuf Defense warned that aerial lifting of wounded personnel is very risky, and each mission must be prepared individually based on specific terrain and combat conditions; in the company's view, such operations should still be the last resort when ground evacuation is not feasible.
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