Ukrainian company SkyFall has developed the StarGate drone for the aerial evacuation of wounded soldiers and handed it over to the military this week for frontline testing.
Oboronka reported this, citing the Associated Press.
According to a company representative, the idea emerged after a request from the military. Last year, the commander of the 475th Separate Assault Regiment Code 9.2, call sign “Flint,” approached SkyFall’s founder with a request to develop a safer way to evacuate wounded soldiers from hard-to-reach positions.
It is noted that in some sections of the front, the zone of constant threat from drones and artillery extends 10–15 km or more. The StarGate has a flight range of up to 15 km one way, potentially allowing it to evacuate wounded soldiers from such areas.
According to a unit commander with the call sign “KVN,” ground robots typically take two to three hours to reach a position.
“Covering 10 kilometers in just a few minutes would be a game changer on the front line,” he said.
According to the manufacturer, the StarGate can carry a payload of up to 150 kg, including a wounded soldier wearing body armor and carrying equipment. To transport casualties, the drone is equipped with a specially designed medical cabin fitted with a stretcher.
The drone has a cruising speed of 65 km/h and a maximum speed of 105 km/h. Preparing the aircraft for flight takes about ten minutes.
The StarGate is equipped with two communication channels: Starlink and its own L-Link system. The drone is operated by a pilot, while artificial intelligence-based features help it operate without GPS and in environments affected by electronic warfare. According to the developers, if communication is completely lost, the drone can independently plot a route to a safe zone.
During a field demonstration, the StarGate took off carrying a stretcher loaded with a payload simulating a wounded soldier wearing body armor. An FPV drone attack was also simulated at the testing ground, and electronic warfare systems were activated. When one of the drones approached, the StarGate fired a net that entangled it and knocked it off course.
According to SkyFall, one system will cost at least $50,000, depending on its configuration. By the end of 2026, the company plans to scale up production to as many as 1,000 of these drones per month.
The military is currently testing the StarGate in frontline conditions. According to a unit commander, at least a month of use is needed to assess the drone’s effectiveness.
SkyFall is a Ukrainian manufacturer of heavy Vampire drones, known as “Baba Yaga,” and Shrike FPV drones. The company has also developed the P1-SUN interceptor drone.
In March this year, it was reported that Gurzuf Defence had developed the Ayudag-6, a heavy drone capable of carrying up to 90 kg of cargo. The multicopter is also being considered for evacuating wounded soldiers from the battlefield.
