Rheinmetall to supply Ukraine with two Forward Surgical Team stations.

Rheinmetall has booked a further order from the Ukrainian ministry of Defence to supply modern mobile medical facilities for field operations. The Group will be supplying Ukraine with two Forward Surgical Team (FST) systems.
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A sheltered FST system comprises three sets of vehicles, each consisting of a truck, a trailer and a total of six containers, which remain truck- and trailer-mounted even during operation (Picture source: Rheinmetall)

The two systems have been acquired within the framework of the "Enable & Enhance" Initiative of the German government. They have a contract value in the high single-digit million euro range and are due to be delivered in late 2023 and early 2024. At the end of 2022, Rheinmetall had already been awarded an order to supply Ukraine with a turnkey mobile Role 2 hospital.

A sheltered FST system comprises three sets of vehicles, each consisting of a truck, a trailer and a total of six containers, which remain truck- and trailer-mounted even during operation. When deployed, the containers, which are interconnected and expandable, include a reception and triage area, an x-ray shelter, a pre-operation unit and an operation shelter as well as an intensive care unit. Equipped with a generator and water tank, the supply container allows the turnkey system to operate independently for at least 48 hours. The system features state-of-the-art medical technology: major components such as the high-performance x-ray device come from Siemens Healthineers, a strategic partner of Rheinmetall.

FSTs are intended for damage control surgery, or DCS. They enable lifesaving procedures to be carried out very quickly on badly wounded soldiers close to the frontline of the battlefield. Patients are stabilized and prepared for transport to other medical units in the rear for further treatment at a Role 2 or Role 3 field hospitals or stationary facilities. Highly mobile, FSTs are swiftly ready to operate thanks to the short set-up times – and to jump at short notice in response to shifting front lines.

Defense News June 2023