Ukraine’s New Medical Evacuation Vehicle Nears Deployment
24 November, 2023 A medical evacuation vehicle based on the Kozak-7 armored vehicle. Photo credits: Radio Svoboda/Minstrategprom The Ukrainian Research and Production Association < > is developing a medical evacuation vehicle for the Ukrainian military.
Deputy Minister of Strategic Industry of Ukraine Hanna Hvozdiar informed about this in her interview with Radio Svoboda. A private company is developing a new medical vehicle for transporting the wounded from the frontlines based on the existing Kozak-7 armored vehicle. The original armored vehicle and its medical version are built on a modified chassis of the American Ford F550 4x4 truck.
A medical evacuation vehicle based on the Kozak-7 armored vehicle.
Photo credits: Radio Svoboda/Minstrategprom
The ballistic protection of the Kozak vehicle complies with the PZSA-5 standard (similar to NATO STANAG 4569 lvl 2), which provides protection against 7.62x51mm bullets in all projections. Mine protection withstands mines with a capacity of up to 6 kg of TNT. The medical compartment, located in the aft part of the vehicle, is designed to carry four lying wounded and a medic.
It has two escape doors and is designed to accommodate the injured.
Aft compartment for the wounded in an evacuation vehicle. Photo credits: Radio Svoboda/Minstrategprom
The minister deputy said that the new vehicle is currently being tested to eliminate shortcomings and adapt it to the real needs of the military. It is noted that the prototype is being tested and finalized under the supervision of medics involved in the evacuation of the wounded from the battlefield.
It is worth noting that at the time of the presentation of the Kozak-7 vehicle, the developers also presented a medical evacuation version of the vehicle for order.
A medical vehicle based on the Kozak-7 model of 2022 and its version (right) of 2023
The present prototype, on the other hand, stands out for the larger size of the medical area and the lack of a second pair of doors.
The Kozak-7 vehicle is a relatively new piece of equipment that was first shown to representatives of the Ministry of Defense in late January 2022, a month before the Russian invasion.
To date, it is known that a certain number of Ukrainian-made armored vehicles have entered service with the Defense Forces of Ukraine and are being actively used by Ukrainian Air Assault Forces.