Military Medical Personnel Train with Off-Road Ambulances

Personnel from the Hungarian Defense Forces Medical Center practiced driving Iveco Scorpio off-road ambulances across varied terrain at the Csobánka training area, under the guidance of instructors from the Defense Forces’ NCO Academy.

Five of these specialized military ambulances, designed for exceptional off-road performance, are already in service with the Hungarian Defense Forces. The fleet is expected to grow to 11 vehicles by 2029. More than five meters long and over two meters wide, the vehicle has a maximum gross weight of up to 6,900 kilograms, a top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph), and a 3,000 cc engine.

Its greatest advantage is its ability to move quickly and easily even across extremely difficult terrain, significantly contributing to the success of casualty evacuation operations. However, effective performance depends on skilled vehicle handling. To develop these skills, the NCO Academy provides specialized off-road driving instruction.

The goal is for drivers to become familiar with the vehicle’s characteristics while also expanding and improving their own capabilities,”

said Captain Zoltán Bálint, head of the Driver Training and Maintenance Preparation Subdivision of the ‘Kinizsi Pál’ Training Department.

A course featuring natural terrain obstacles was selected and prepared for the training. Participants tested the vehicles on steep downhill and uphill slopes, side inclines, and surfaces with varying levels of traction. Gravel sections, logs, and sandy as well as hard, clay-rich ground added to the difficulty.

Although the Iveco Scorpio vehicles are designed primarily for use on mixed terrain, including public roads,

their major advantage over previous ambulance vehicles is their suitability for operations in the challenging conditions typical of Hungary’s military training grounds,

such as the Bakony region and the Csobánka training area, where the course took place.

One specialized feature that significantly enhances the vehicle’s off-road capabilities is its three differentials, all of which can be locked. Because the vehicles are new to service, the driver training program progresses gradually from the fundamentals to an intermediate level of proficiency. This approach enables every driver to master off-road driving techniques and develop the skills needed to operate the vehicles confidently and competently.

Via honvedelem.hu, Featured image: honvedelem.hu/Ákos Pintér

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