Ukraine trials StarGate drone to airlift wounded soldiers from combat zones

Ukrainian drone maker SkyFall has completed a field demonstration of its StarGate evacuation drone, which lifts a weighted stretcher mimicking a wounded soldier in body armour. Designed to reach deep into the “kill zone” where artillery and hostile drones dominate, the unmanned craft boasts a one-way range of 15 km and a payload capacity of 150 kg. During the trial, simulated enemy drones approached, prompting the drone’s defensive net system and its AI-driven navigation to maintain control despite GPS denial and electronic jamming.

The project originated from a request by Flint, commander of the 475th Separate Assault Regiment’s Code 9.2 unit, seeking a faster alternative to ground vehicles that can take hours to reach casualties. SkyFall reports the drone can be prepared for launch in roughly ten minutes, flies at 65-105 kph, and can autonomously return if contact is lost. The unit has begun frontline testing, though officials say a month of use is needed before performance can be fully assessed.