A new vehicle for the Bundeswehr medical service has now been presented at the Bundeswehr Central Hospital in Koblenz. The carrier vehicle is based on an Iveco Eurocargo and has already proven itself as a civilian intensive care transport vehicle in the medical service.
The vehicle is designed for a crew of three and will replace the existing ambulances and mobile medical units based on the two-ton Unimog. A total of 294 units will be procured, 241 of which are intended for the medical service, 41 for the army and six for the navy. Between 50 and 70 units will be delivered in 2023. With a gross vehicle weight rating of 15,000 kilograms and a power output of 280 hp, the vehicle can also tackle difficult terrain and enable fast transportation. The top speed is over 80 km/h. The 6-cylinder diesel engine with Euro VI CRE standard ensures a reliable and low-emission drive. Thanks to its full off-road capability, the vehicle can also be used in areas that are difficult to access and thus provides valuable support in the various Bundeswehr operations. The new vehicle is characterized by its modern box body. From defibrillators and emergency ventilators to mobile, portable ultrasound equipment, it has everything needed to care for patients. A particular highlight is the fully automated stretcher table, which makes it possible to treat wounded patients on all standard stretchers at ground level without any additional aids. The vehicle is also equipped with a wide range of communication options. These include the BOS authority radio for communication with civilian rescue and disaster relief forces and the police, military radio and command and control equipment such as Tetrapol, the Army Command Information System and satellite telephones. According to Surgeon General Ulrich Baumgärtner, Inspector of the Bundeswehr Medical Service, the vehicle “ushers in a new era in patient transportation”. Baumgärtner continues: “Thanks to the combination of modern technology and medical equipment, the vehicle offers optimum conditions for transporting the wounded and enables medical personnel to treat patients quickly and effectively.”
