Rheinmetall Secures New Contract to Provide Eight Additional Mobile Surgical Teams to Ukraine
Rheinmetall has secured a follow-up contract to deliver eight additional Mobile Surgical Team (FST) stations to the Ukrainian armed forces. This order, valued in the tens of millions of euros, is part of the German Federal Government’s “Ertüchtigungsinitiative,” aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s defense infrastructure.
The contract stipulates that Rheinmetall will begin delivering these advanced medical units in 2024, with all eight systems expected to be fully operational by the end of 2026. These FST stations are equipped with modern medical technologies, including an X-ray container, an operating room, and an intensive care unit, all meeting contemporary hospital standards.
To ensure mobility and rapid deployment, each FST station will be accompanied by a mobile component consisting of three heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) from Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV), including trailers. This setup allows for easy transportation of the medical units to various locations as needed.
Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG, expressed his satisfaction with the new order: “Our medical care facilities are highly mobile, quickly deployable, and of exceptional quality. This new contract underscores the success of our previous deliveries of medical technologies to Ukraine. We are proud to support the Ukrainian forces with our advanced medical aid.”
In addition to delivering the FST units, Rheinmetall plans to train Ukrainian personnel in Germany. This follows a similar initiative in September 2023, when Rheinmetall delivered a mobile field hospital (NATO-Role-2-Standard) to Ukraine, equipped with 32 patient beds, including eight intensive care units. Ten Ukrainian soldiers received two weeks of training on the assembly, disassembly, transportation, and operation of the hospital.
The new FST stations are designed for frontline use, consisting of six interconnected containers providing a comprehensive medical facility, including reception and triage areas, an X-ray shelter, surgical preparation, a surgical unit, and an intensive care unit. Additionally, a support container with a power generator and water tanks ensures that the system can operate independently for at least 48 hours.
Rheinmetall’s collaboration with leading German medical technology manufacturers ensures that these systems are equipped with the latest innovations. The FSTs will play a crucial role in providing life-saving measures and stabilizing severely injured troops on the front lines, significantly enhancing Ukraine’s military medical response.