The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has ordered Rheinmetall to supply eight additional Forward Surgical Team (FST) stations for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
According to the company, this order is part of an initiative of the German government. Delivery is expected to start in 2024 and be completed by the end of 2026.
The order includes eight turnkey systems equipped with state-of-the-art medical technology, including an X-ray container, operating theatre and intensive care unit, equipped to the standard of a modern hospital.
Rheinmetall is also supplying three Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMW) trucks, including trailers, to transport each unit. The secure FST system consists of three sets of vehicles, each including a truck, a trailer and six containers that remain mounted on the truck and trailer even during operation.
The order is valued at tens of millions of euros.
According to Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, these Rheinmetall medical systems are highly mobile, work very quickly and meet the highest quality standards.
In addition to the delivery of the equipment, a week-long training programme for the relevant Ukrainian staff in Germany is also planned.
FSTs are containerised rescue units for surgical operations. They consist of six containers each, five of which are interconnected during operation and have a reception area, triage area, X-ray room, surgical preparation area, surgical room, and intensive care unit.
A support container with an electric generator and water tanks can keep the system in operation autonomously for at least 48 hours. Rheinmetall cooperates with well-known German manufacturers in the field of medical technology to produce these systems.
FSTs are designed for use on the front line. There, severely injured soldiers can be provided with life-saving measures within a very short time.
Back in September 2023, Rheinmetall handed over a mobile field hospital (NATO-Role-2-Standard) with 32 beds for patients, eight of which are for intensive care, to Ukraine.