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BOĞAÇ 6x6 Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) to Perform Medical Evacuation

Date: Issue 101 - November 2020

The Multi-Purpose Remote Operated UGV 6x6 BOĞAÇ has been modified as a Remote Operated Medical Evacuation Vehicle.

A module that can be controlled remotely and also carry a stretcher has been integrated into BOĞAÇ and a task has been defined where it can work jointly with the bomb disposal robot TMR-II Çetin (or TMR-II Kutlu), which is currently operated in Libya. Accordingly, BOĞAÇ will be sent to injured personnel on the frontline where it is high risk for rescue/medical teams to enter.

The remotely controlled module (lift system) will be lowered to the ground with the stretcher and the stretcher will be pulled by TMR-II Çetin or TMR-II Kutlu and extended to the size of the injured person lying on the ground. If the injured person is conscious and able to move towards the stretcher, they will get on the stretcher independently and the vacuum stretcher (a stretcher that immobilizes the entire body after lying down) will take over and the vehicle will carry the injured person via remote control to the safe zone. If the injured person is unconscious or unable to move, but has colleagues who can assist, the injured person will be put on a stretcher with their help and will be taken out of the area with this module on the vehicle. If the injured person is unconscious or unable to move, and there is nobody around to place them on the stretcher, TMR-II Çetin will get involved again at this point and pull the injured person onto the stretcher.

All of these activities performed remotely will be carried out through cameras on both BOĞAÇ and TMR-II Çetin.

Explaining the details of the concept, Elektroland Defence Quality System Manager Evren ÇETİN said: “BOĞAÇ is an unmanned ground platform that we have designed and produced with completely domestic resources. Our concept studies are ongoing as per the different purposes required in the operation field. Recently, we developed the Casualty Evacuation Concept for BOĞAÇ and initiated the related tests. The casualty evacuation mission is quite challenging. It is easy to say but hard to do. We have witnessed this difficulty in past operations of our security forces, as well as in recent operations. Our focus is on eliminating the difficulties that our security forces encounter. While developing this latest concept, we focused on the operational needs of our security forces. At this point, we are in close communication with the Presidency of Defense Industries, General Staff, service commands and the General Directorate of Security. As a result of our research, we see that there are platforms that partially fulfill this mission amongst unmanned ground platforms, which are the equivalent of BOĞAÇ. The most important feature that distinguishes BOĞAÇ from these systems is that even if the injured person is unconscious or unable to move, it can carry such an injured person to the first aid point in the safest way with its own means and the equipment on it. The operation takes 4 minutes on average.”