US Army Delivers Blood by Drone, Following Ukrainian Azov Military Innovation

The US military has delivered blood by drone during the Swift Response 2025 multinational exercise held at the Pabradė training ground in Lithuania, Defence Blog reported.

The operation used a TRV-150 unmanned aerial vehicle to drop a package containing medical supplies, including blood.

The package was delivered using a parachute system.

The goal was to demonstrate how unmanned systems can be used to provide medical support in combat environments and improve survival rates for the wounded.

Azov Experience

The use of drones to deliver blood to the front line was pioneered by Ukrainian forces.

On February 21, 2025, Ukraine’s 12th Azov Brigade of the National Guard reported the world’s first such delivery in combat conditions.

At the time, a soldier had suffered a serious shrapnel wound to the neck, causing heavy blood loss. With evacuation proving difficult and the soldier in critical condition, medics opted to deliver blood components by drone directly to the trench.

This enabled on-site transfusion, increasing the soldier’s chances of survival.

In addition to blood, the drone also carried other essential supplies: transfusion kits, intraosseous access devices, warming agents, calcium, painkillers, and antibiotics.

The soldier remained in the position for more than 10 hours before evacuation. The brigade later confirmed that his condition had been stabilized.

Combat Transfusions on the Front Line

The ability to conduct blood transfusions in combat is a significant development for Ukrainian military medicine, achieved through close cooperation between the armed forces and medical volunteers.

Until 2023, Ukrainian regulations permitted blood transfusions only by licensed physicians. However, in response to battlefield needs, the Ministry of Health launched a dedicated training program in transfusion therapy.

This initiative enabled combat medics to acquire the knowledge and practical skills required to safely administer transfusions in the field.

As a result, trained personnel — not just professional doctors — can now perform transfusions directly on the front line or during evacuation, providing critical care before a patient reaches a stabilization point or hospital.

Azov Brigade medics were among the first to incorporate transfusion procedures into combat medical training, beginning as early as 2019.