One drone will find an injured soldier, the another will supply him with medication, and another will supply transport from the battlefield to a safe place. The doctor or paramedic will be watching over everything. Colonel Krzysztof Wysocki of the Academy of War Art and Lieutenant Ewelina Grygorowicz of the 15th Mechanized Brigade talk about the advantages of the innovative MEWA MED system.
Soldiers of the 15th Mechanized Brigade from Giżycka late tested the interaction of medical safety elements with the MEWA MED strategy on the battlefield. What is this system?
Colonel Dr. Krzysztof Wysocki, Head of MEWA MED investigation squad from the Academy of War Art: MEWA MED, the Medical Evacuation Module, is simply a modern solution designed for rescue and evacuation operations in the field of combat and in crisis situations. Work on this innovative task began in 2021. The strategy developed a consortium with the participation of KenBIT Sp. z o.o. (leader), AMZ-Kutno S.A. and Pelixar S.A. and the Academy of War Art, which was liable for the operational-tactical side. The key partner was besides Military Medical Institutewhich provided expert support in the field of combat medicine.
The task is financed by the National Centre for investigation and improvement under the programme "Development of modern, groundbreaking technologies for the safety and defence of the state – Szafir". Our goal was to increase the velocity and effectiveness of medical assistance and evacuation of combat victims thanks to the integration of modern technologies, specified as reconnaissance and transport drones and IT systems, with command procedures.
China, Germany and the Americans are besides working on akin solutions, but our method thought does not quit – MEWA MED is not only a modern project, but besides full adapted to the reality of tactical action and is compatible with NATO interoperability requirements.
What is included in the module?
Lieutenant Ewelina Grygorowicz, platoon commander from 1st Battalion of the Mechanized Swiss Mazowiecki 15 BZ: The strategy uses 3 types of unmanned aircraft. The first is simply a light reconnaissance drone equipped with an advanced infrared camera. It enables fast and safe reconnaissance of the site and the location of people in request of assistance. This is peculiarly crucial in mass events where reaction time determines survival. The drone data is analyzing a doctor or a lifeguard who assesses the condition of the victim on their basis, determines the degree of the aid required and introduces the applicable information into the system. Depending on the situation, this may consequence in a medical evacuation squad (MEDEVAC) or a medical supply drone being sent. For this purpose, the average drone, with a burden capacity of up to 2 kg, is used, which allows fast transportation of medical supplies – medicines, dressings, blood, oxygen or infusion fluids – straight to the victim. This allows you to start medical activity even before evacuation.
Colonel Wysocki: The key component of the strategy is simply a dense transport drone capable of carrying a burden of up to 120 kg. It was designed to evacuate victims from hard-to-access places, specified as those where the usage of classical means of transport is impossible or besides time-consuming. The current regulations do not let the transport of persons utilizing BSP, so the dummy was utilized during the exercise. In order to full exploit the possible of this solution, a change of law will be necessary.
All BSPs have an operational scope of up to 15 kilometres and their flight time is up to 30 minutes, depending on the weather conditions and mission configuration. These platforms are controlled from a mobile driving station located in a specially adapted combat vehicle. The staff of the post shall be: a commander with the privileges of a drone operator, an BSP operator, a paramedic or a doctor and a driver. specified a composition provides the anticipation of conducting exploratory and evacuation activities in full autonomy, without the request for permanent external support. The main advantage of the MEWA MED module is the integration of unmanned aircraft with C2 systems and medical evacuation management application. The full process – from the location of the victim to MEDEVAC call – it can be carried out efficiently, precisely and safely, even in very hard terrain conditions.
What was the cooperation of soldiers with MEWA MED during the exercise?
Lieutenant Grygorovich: On site Centre for Field Forces Training in Orzysz the training was attended by soldiers from 15 GBZ and 16th Bomb Squad, as well as the Military Fire Department and medical safety teams from 15 GBZ. First, lecturers from AszWoj and WIM and representatives of another entities from the MEWA MED consortium provided us with information about the operation of the system, its method capabilities and rules on evacuation of victims utilizing unmanned aircraft systems.
Colonel Wysocki: respective scenarios were followed, which allowed in practice to test the operational capabilities of MEWA MED in similar to real conditions. The first episode took place in a town center. There was a fire, any of the residents were cut off in their homes and got to the roofs of buildings where they were waiting for help. The reconnaissance drone detected the victims, and the crew of the MEWA MED vehicle immediately transmitted information to the emergency services. At the same time, utilizing a average drone, first-aid means were delivered to the roofs: radio stations, dressings and thermal blankets, which allowed victims to last safely until evacuation.
In the next episode – embedded in the reality of the combat actions of the 1st Mechanized Battalion – the script assumed that soldiers remaining in the region of fire contact with the opponent would be injured. The MEWA MED strategy made it possible to rapidly find their position, to remotely measure injuries and to supply individual medical packages. The final evacuation of the most severely wounded soldiers was carried out utilizing the Rosomak-WEM transporters.
Another script active an event erstwhile the mined forest myocardial infarction was diagnosed. After the explosion, 1 of the bomb squads suffered (simulated) injuries – the situation was diagnosed with a light drone, and then the evacuation drone was utilized to transport the victim (the training phantoms were utilized for exercise) to the medical point. This script was peculiarly crucial as it reflects a situation where classical evacuation would be delayed or impossible due to a mine hazard. The exercises were so comprehensive and allowed to draw many conclusions on the usage of MEWA MED.
What are the conclusions?
Lieutenant Grygorovich: Exercises have confirmed the advanced efficiency and usefulness of this strategy under battlefield conditions. It provides a fast assessment of the wellness of an injured soldier, helps to establish medical priorities, and sends data about this to medical safety units and command system. This reduces the duration of assistance and increases the efficiency of medical evacuation.
Colonel Wysocki: Importantly, training in 15 BZ was at the same time the certification of the prototype of the MEWA MED module, which was a success.
One crucial conclusion is that, apart from military usage of MEWA MED, it can besides be utilized in crisis situations, e.g. during floods, erstwhile reaching people cut off by water is difficult. presently this requires the usage of helicopters or floating transporters (PTS), while MEWA MED would let the transportation of means of communication, medicines or water utilizing drones, and even to evacuate victims from the emergency areas through dense BSP.
The Szafir investigation programme will end on 31 May. What's next with MEWA MED?
We will transmit all the documentation, investigation results and certification related to this strategy to the NCBR. In order for MEWA MED to be implemented in the armed forces, it will be essential to include it in the “Set of Tasks for Operational Needs” and then in the method Modernisation Plan. Then, on the basis of our project, the first test copies of MEWA MED will be created, which will go to the army for testing. Only after their affirmative completion will it be possible to decide on possible series production and to implement the strategy on a larger scale. We are now awaiting further decisions by the institutions liable for the process of upgrading the method forces.
