The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence has commissioned Rheinmetall to deliver eight additional Forward Surgical Team stations (FST) for the country`s armed forces. The order is part of the strengthening initiative (“Ertüchtigungsinitiative”) of the Federal Government of Germany. The delivery is expected to begin in 2024 and to be completed by end 2026. The order comprises eight turnkey-ready systems, equipped with highly modern medical technology, among it an x-ray-container, an operating theatre and a unit for intensive care on 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 a medium double-digit million Euro range.
Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG: “The medical care facilities from Rheinmetall are highly mobile, very fast operational and quality-wise on the highest standard. 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, is also envisaged give appropriate Ukrainian personnel a one week’s training in Germany. Already in September 2023, Rheinmetall had handed-over a mobile field hospital (NATO-Role-2-Standard) with 32 beds for patients, of which eight are for intensive care, to Ukraine. Also in this case, ten Ukrainian soldiers underwent a two-week training regarding assembly and disassembly as well as transportation and operation of the hospital. Two rescue units of the current order will be delivered by Rheinmetall end of 2023 and beginning of 2024.
The FSTs are container-based rescue units for mounted operations. They consist of six containers each. Five of which are connected to each other while in operation and have a reception, respectively a triage-area, an x-ray-shelter, a surgery preparation, a surgery-shelter as well as an intensive care unit. The support container with a power generator and water tanks can keep the system in service independently for at least 48 hours. Concerning the production of these systems, Rheinmetall cooperates with renowned German manufacturers from the medical technology sector.
The FSTs are intended for use on the front-line. There life-sustaining measures can be carried out on severely injured troops within a very short time, and the patients can be stabilized.