Amid intense and bloody fighting in Ukraine, both the US and China are undergoing training to address the increasing complexities of evacuating wounded soldiers from the frontlines.
Traditionally, the US has engaged adversaries with inferior technology. However, the current conflict raises questions about the viability of medical evacuation in scenarios involving advanced air defenses, long-range missiles, and sophisticated jet fighters. Both the US and China are confronting these challenges as they prepare for potential conflicts in the Pacific region, where vast distances and the crucial “golden hour” play critical roles in saving lives.
Amid intense and bloody fighting in Ukraine, both the US and China are undergoing training to address the increasing complexities of evacuating wounded soldiers from the frontlines.
To address these challenges, both the US and Chinese military have recently conducted exercises aimed at testing their ability to rapidly treat casualties in hostile and distant environments. In a recent joint exercise named Mobility Guardian 23, the US Air Force and other allied forces experimented with new procedures for medevac operations. Given the potential for a conflict with China, the US forces must contend with traversing vast oceanic distances while ensuring adequate medical supplies and facilities. In response, they explored a decentralized approach, deploying well-equipped medical teams alongside airlift squadrons to provide immediate care. These teams would initially utilize smaller transport planes capable of landing on short or underdeveloped runways, adapting to the challenges posed by potential missile attacks on main air bases.
In parallel, China conducted its own exercise focused on evacuating casualties from remote islands, a particularly relevant challenge for their strategic interests in the South China Sea and surrounding territories. Utilizing helicopters for medevac operations from islands posed significant challenges, but the Chinese military successfully demonstrated their capability to execute such maneuvers.
As the conflict in Ukraine underscores, battles involving advanced weaponry strain the medical capacity of militaries. The ability to conduct air, ground, and sea-based medical evacuations becomes incredibly challenging due to the extended range and precision of weaponry possessed by near-peer adversaries. This potentially results in delayed access to medical care for injured soldiers and places medical personnel in harm’s way.
Comparing conflicts with less-equipped enemies to battles against technologically advanced opponents like Russia and China, the injuries sustained are expected to be more severe and complex. The majority of combat casualties in Ukraine resulted from artillery and rocket attacks, causing significant polytrauma. Such attacks generate a higher volume of patients, often with severe injuries to vital organs. As a result, medical facilities face increased pressure and risks when treating such casualties.
Amid intense and bloody fighting in Ukraine, both the US and China are undergoing training to address the increasing complexities of evacuating wounded soldiers from the frontlines.
The complexity of evacuating wounded soldiers in scenarios involving advanced weaponry requires reevaluation and adaptation of medevac procedures. The ability to deliver life-saving care will demand greater resources than previously allocated. As warfare evolves, military medical operations must also evolve to ensure the well-being of wounded soldiers and to mitigate the risks posed by adversaries’ advanced capabilities.
Amid intense and bloody fighting in Ukraine, both the US and China are undergoing training to address the increasing complexities of evacuating wounded soldiers from the frontlines.
Michael Peck, a defense writer, holds a master’s in political science and has contributed to publications like Forbes, Defense News, and Foreign Policy magazine. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.