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Transforming combat casualty evac
- karen paterson
- Apr 25
- 2 min read
This Anzac Day, we join with the Spitfire Association in announcing the 2025 Spitfire Memorial Defence Fellowship recipient - Dr Abhilash Chandra – for the SABRN PC-LifePod project.
This project aims to revolutionise combat casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) and trauma care in both military and civilian settings.
The SABRN PC-LifePod project addresses critical challenges in battlefield and emergency medical response, where delays caused by difficult terrain, limited resources, and hostile conditions often lead to high mortality rates.
The modular, scalable, and vehicle-agnostic evacuation pods are designed to provide rapid casualty stabilisation and efficient transport from the point of injury (POI) to higher levels of medical care. By integrating advanced pre-hospital care technologies, the PC-LifePods aim to significantly reduce preventable deaths in combat and disaster scenarios.
“We are privileged to support Dr Chandra’s groundbreaking work on the PC-LifePod project through the Spitfire Memorial Defence Fellowship,” said Geoff Zuber, President, Spitfire Association. “This initiative exemplifies the innovative spirit and commitment to excellence that the Fellowship seeks to promote, with the potential to save countless lives in critical situations.”
As the 2025 Spitfire Memorial Defence Fellow, Dr Chandra will continue to develop and refine the SABRN PC-LifePod system, exploring its adaptability across different operational environments and its integration with existing military and emergency response frameworks.
Dr Chandra said, “I am deeply honoured to receive this Fellowship, which provides a vital platform for me to develop the SABRN PC-LifePods. This support enables us to enhance casualty care and evacuation in extreme conditions. I am excited to contribute to the Fellowship’s legacy of innovation and excellence and look forward to sharing the outcomes of my project.”
About the Spitfire Memorial Defence Fellowship
Recognising the need to be ever vigilant, the Spitfire Memorial Defence Fellowship was conceived by pilots of 457 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), including the late AVM Lyndon Compton AO OBE RAAF, the late FLTLT Edward (Ted) Sly DFC, the late FLTLT Peter Watson DFC and the late Lifetime Vice President FLTLT Lysle Roberts. Their vision for the Fellowship was as an ongoing living memorial rather than a traditional granite and bronze monument.
The Fellowship Fund provides for the award of an annual Fellowship, which is administered through the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra. Do you have a project or venture contributing to Australia’s sovereign capability and resilience? Applications for the 2026 Spitfire Memorial Defence Fellowship are now open. Find out more and apply.
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