Avilus’s new DRONEVAC rescue system is a comprehensive solution aimed at enhancing medical evacuation capabilities. The DRONEVAC system, envisioned as a “guardian angel” for troops, includes a multicopter for transporting the wounded (MEDEVAC), a mobile operations center (PECC), and a trailer platform for flight operations, service, and logistics (TROL).
“The military-medical applications of the system are manifold: tactical evacuation from casualty collection points, transfer missions between medical treatment facilities, medical supply flights, or selected special operations in high-risk areas,” Avilus said.
A key component of the DRONEVAC system presented at the ILA exhibition is the Grille UAV, designed specifically for battlefield evacuation. The Grille is a Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) drone with impressive capabilities. It boasts a maximum take-off weight of 750kg (1,650lb), can carry a payload of approximately 135kg, and operates within a range of about 50km (27 nautical miles) at a cruise speed of 86km/h (46 knots).
In November 2023, Avilus, in collaboration with KNDS Deutschland, the Bundeswehr Medical Academy, and the Medical Squadron Bischofswiesen, participated in a military medical exercise to test the DRONEVAC system. This exercise, conducted under the RASEVAC philosophy, aimed to evaluate digital processes within the rescue chain and the integration of “Robotics and Autonomous Systems” (RAS). The exercise included the UAV Grille and the Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) THeMIS.
The exercise scenario was divided into three phases. In the first phase, the UGV THeMIS was used to evacuate the wounded from the “hot zone” to the casualty collection point (CCP). In the second phase, care was provided by a Bravo first responder at the scene. Finally, the wounded soldier was loaded into the rescue cabin of the UAV Grille for unaccompanied transport, with a focus on emergency medical preparation.
The Grille UAV features an enclosing diameter of 7.8 meters and a propeller diameter of 2.25 meters. When packed, it fits into a 20ft ISO-container. Its performance specifications include a cruise speed of 86 km/h, a service ceiling of 2100 meters, and a range of 51 kilometers. The drone can carry a payload of 135 kilograms and has a maximum takeoff weight of 695 kilograms, with a maximum power output of 240 kW.
