Ukrainian Defense Ministry launches drone marketplace for Armed Forces
Ukrainian Defense Ministry kickstarts new drone procurement system (Getty Images)
Eleven Ukrainian drone manufacturers have already been integrated into the DOT-Chain Defense marketplace, according to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
The Defense Procurement Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (DPA) continues to sign state contracts with drone manufacturers — 11 companies have already been integrated into the DOT-Chain Defense weapons marketplace.
Among the manufacturers whose drones will be available for military selection:
- Escadrone
- TAF Drones
- Vyriy Drone
- VNA Trade
- General Cherry
- Gryph
In the project's pilot phase, 12 combat brigades can order FPV drones through the marketplace. The system will later be scaled to cover all branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the range of drone types available for order will also be expanded.
"While the market offers a wide range of drones, units do not always receive those best suited to their operational tasks. DOT-Chain Defense is intended to change this approach: military units can now place specific orders tailored to their needs," said the director of the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA), Arsen Zhumadilov.
According to him, the manufacturer sees actual demand, the unit sees its supplier, and the DPA ensures transparent and efficient support.
The marketplace format provides that the military can independently choose and order the necessary drones using DPA funds — for the pilot stage, the Ministry of Defense has allocated one billion hryvnias to the agency for drone procurement.
The ministry noted that the DPA handles the entire support process — from contract signing to logistics and payment organization.
Thanks to the digital model of interaction, the ordering process is highly simplified — the military only needs three digital signatures to receive a drone. This allows for delivery times to be reduced to just a few weeks.
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine launched a new digital weapons supply system for the Armed Forces — DOT-Chain Defense.
Each military unit will be able to independently choose the equipment it truly needs, while DOT-Chain Defense will provide financing, logistics, and direct communication with manufacturers without unnecessary bureaucracy.
Currently, the system works with FPV drones, but it will later include other types of unmanned aerial vehicles, electronic warfare tools, and robotic systems.
