The latest phase of the war has once again transformed the approach to casualty evacuation from frontline positions. Evacuation distances have remained the same as at the start of the full-scale campaign, while reconnaissance and strike drone capabilities have grown dramatically — both in quantity and quality. At the same time, the number of personnel at positions has decreased. Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) have emerged as a powerful force multiplier, including for casualty evacuation. I will not elaborate on how UGVs operate in general, as that is a topic for a dedicated article to be written by specialists in that field. However, I want to note that UGVs, like any other equipment, function as part of a broader system that includes many complementary technical solutions — among them, our YUTA flexible plastic stretchers.

Driven by my own professional interest — later joined by a request from a General Staff working group — I conducted a study on the suitability and compatibility of our stretchers for UGV-assisted evacuation. Without unnecessary padding, I will outline the advantages, disadvantages, and pitfalls.

1. For UGV-assisted evacuation, full-size models are best suited — specifically the YUTA-B and YUTA-F. Their larger dimensions are an advantage in this context. These stretchers allow the casualty to be well insulated without the need to transfer thermal blankets when loading onto a vehicle. Additionally, the stretcher can carry water, a radio, a weapon, or anti-drone equipment if the tactical situation demands it — since not all UGVs are equipped with a storage compartment for such items. The stretchers can also be included in UGV equipment loadouts to account for their absence at a position or an unexpected need for evacuation. While the primary function of stretchers is to secure the casualty firmly, there is an important nuance here: if necessary and possible, the casualty must be able to exit the UGV quickly. Therefore, when evacuating via UGV, the casualty is placed on top of the stretcher’s lateral straps — which are left unfastened.

It should also be noted that hypothermia during evacuation is no less a threat to the casualty than enemy drones. Thermal protection therefore deserves serious attention. It never hurts to place an additional foam mat under or inside the stretcher, add an extra sleeping bag, tuck chemical heat packs under the blankets — or better yet, include a supply of them in the “casualty kit” alongside water and a radio.

2. Key advantages of using YUTA-B and YUTA-F stretchers in conjunction with UGVs:

• High speed of casualty movement from cover to the UGV. The less time the vehicle spends in open terrain, the greater the chances of survival. Furthermore, the UGV cannot always reach the position directly.
• Reduced risk of secondary injury to the casualty during loading/unloading and while in transit.
• Unplanned evacuation. A real-world case: following an unplanned halt during a logistics mission, a casualty had to be transported to the UGV along an unrecognized route. In such situations, having the UGV equipped with stretchers is not merely convenient — it is critical.

3. UGV evacuation by dragging in plastic stretchers along the ground.

This might seem like an obvious solution, and many have already experimented with it. However, this method is currently prohibited — and for compelling reasons:

• UGVs maneuver. To avoid an obstacle or recover from getting stuck, a UGV must reverse. This poses a direct threat to the life of the casualty being towed.
• UGV speeds are higher than human-carried evacuation. The operator has difficulty tracking the trajectory of the stretcher in real time. The casualty ends up hitting terrain features that the stretcher’s construction cannot absorb — a problem that does not arise during manual evacuation.

Together, these factors can result in severe secondary injury or death. These are not theoretical considerations — they are the findings of research and operational experience from unmanned systems units.

4. The next point follows directly from the above. Not all UGVs are designed to carry a casualty on their chassis directly. To expand the evacuation capabilities of various UGVs, the logical solution is the use of specialized trailers. Our teams are already working in this direction. Trailer-based designs offer additional advantages: they reduce the likelihood of the casualty being hit in the event of an attack on the UGV itself, lower the center of gravity (particularly when armored capsules are used), and can be built with suspension systems to reduce secondary injury during transport.

Brief conclusions:

• The use of flexible plastic stretchers enhances UGV functionality.
• Equipping UGVs with stretchers is not just desirable — it is a necessity.
• Flexible plastic stretchers offer significant advantages over other stretcher types when used with UGVs.
• Full-size stretchers are best suited for UGV evacuation.
• Expanding evacuation capabilities requires trailer systems, compatible with armored casualty capsules or built with integral fragmentation protection.

For a case study on using heavy-lift drones with YUTA stretchers for casualty evacuation, see the next article.