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Ukraine's SkyFall unveils StarGate drone to evacuate wounded soldiers

SkyFall unveils StarGate, an evacuation drone that can carry wounded soldiers without risking a rescue crew.

AI News Feed · 2026-10-22 06:13

StarGate can carry a payload of up to 150 kilograms (330 pounds), enough for a single ground operative wearing body armor and carrying combat equipment, according to TechRadar. The drone can be deployed in about 10 minutes and is equipped with anti-drone nets and other countermeasures.

The craft has a one-way range of 15 kilometers and a cruise speed of 65 km/h (40 mph), with a top speed of 105 km/h (65 mph). Its range means it needs to operate within a relatively small area. Each craft has a basic price of $50,000, with various configurations available.

A SkyFall spokesperson said the idea came directly from the front line and from the trenches, following an approach from a commander of the 475th Separate Assault Regiment to find a safer way to evacuate wounded personnel. The spokesperson said evacuation currently takes from several hours to several days, while StarGate can evacuate a person in a matter of minutes. Assuming the injured personnel can make it into the stretcher, the craft can take them to safety and medical care, the spokesperson said, adding that StarGate can give a wounded soldier “a golden chance.” The spokesperson attended the event with their face covered and remained anonymous throughout.

Airlifting injured personnel by drone faces obvious challenges, not least from other drones. To help protect rescue efforts, StarGate is equipped with electronic jamming for attacking drones and can launch nets at them. SkyFall’s spokesperson said the drone has several artificial intelligence functions that allow it to operate in GPS-denied situations or in environments where frequencies are spoofed or blocked. While it is usually controlled by a remote operator, the spokesperson said, the drone is fully autonomous in cases of interference.

The design of StarGate has evolved through several iterations, and SkyFall aims to build around 1,000 per month by the end of 2026, according to TechRadar.

Editor's Summary SkyFall's StarGate is designed to carry a wounded soldier up to 15 kilometers beneath an aerial drone, with a 150-kilogram payload and anti-drone countermeasures. The system is intended to cut evacuation times from hours or days to minutes while keeping rescue crews out of danger. SkyFall says it aims to build about 1,000 units per month by the end of 2026.