As reported by Ukraine’s Ministry of Health on October 16, 2023, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have taken delivery of the first Gurkha 4×4 armored ambulance out of a planned thirteen. These ambulances are intended for the safe evacuation of wounded individuals from the front lines to the nearest medical facilities. The acquisition of these armored ambulances cost a total of 124 million hryvnias (€3.24 million), with funding support from the UNITED24 initiative amounting to 9,532,000 hryvnias (€248,759).
To cater to the specific needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, these armored ambulances were custom-made in Canada. They are built upon the Gurkha MPV, a 4×4 multi-purpose armored vehicle manufactured by Terradyne Armored Vehicles and based on a Ford F-550 Super Duty chassis. These vehicles adhere to B7/STANAG 2 standards, indicating a high level of ballistic protection capable of withstanding various threats, including small arms fire, 7.62mm ammunition, explosives weighing up to 6 kg, and 155mm high explosive (HE) artillery shells.
The Gurkha MPV is equipped with a 6.7-liter V8 turbo diesel engine, producing 330 horsepower and 750 Nm of torque. It features a 6-speed automatic transmission, allowing for a top speed of 130 km/h. The vehicle’s 4×4 drivetrain comes with a shift-on-the-fly capability, enabling the driver to switch between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive modes as required. A notable aspect of these vehicles is their self-sealing tires, designed to continue functioning even after a loss of tire pressure, reducing the risk of immobilization due to tire damage in combat zones.