StarGate drone flies 30 km to rescue two wounded soldiers

Ukrainian forces used a specialized drone to extract two injured soldiers from a contested area near the Russian border this week.

Fighters from the 475th Separate Assault Regiment, known as CODE 9.2, deployed the StarGate aircraft to evacuate Yevhen, 25, and Artem, 24. Both men sustained severe limb injuries while positioned in the grey zone, roughly 5 km from the Russian line. The unit stated that ground evacuation was impossible due to difficult terrain, water obstacles, and the threat of enemy FPV drones.

The military spent one week planning the missions with SkyFall, the drone's manufacturer. Operations required fire support and coordination with other Ukrainian units. Heavy Vampire attack drones suppressed Russian positions to clear the path. During one mission, the StarGate flew nearly 30 km to reach the soldier and traveled the same distance back with the patient on board.

Russian forces actively deployed electronic warfare systems in the operational area. These systems aimed to suppress satellite navigation signals completely. The StarGate drone utilized an AI-based navigation system to maintain control. This technology allowed the aircraft to complete the evacuation successfully despite the loss of GPS data.

The StarGate has a maximum range of 30 km and carries a payload of up to 150 kg. For casualty evacuation, it features a medical capsule with a stretcher. The aircraft operates remotely with a top speed of 105 km/h. Its AI systems enable flight without GPS and in the presence of electronic warfare interference.

Oleksandr Nastenko, the regiment's commander, said the experience will help establish a dedicated medical aviation unit. The new unit will specialize in air evacuations from the battlefield. The 475th Regiment is the first to test the system after SkyFall handed it over for frontline evaluation.

On 19 October, Ukrainian forces also evacuated a wounded soldier using a drone made by Gurzuf Defence. That operation marked the first reported use of an aerial drone for casualty removal by the military.