Ministry of Defense introduces DOT-Chain ‘drone marketplace’ for brigades
Photo: LOVA

On July 7, the Ministry of Defense launched DOT-Chain Defense — a new marketplace that allows military brigades to independently purchase drones, with other types of equipment to be added later. The announcement was made by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

DOT-Chain Defense was developed by the Defense Procurement Agency (AOZ) based on the DOT-Chain system, which was introduced in 2024 by the State Logistics Operator (DOT) for military food procurement.

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Essentially, the platform functions as a digital marketplace where brigades can directly order the weapons and equipment they need from manufacturers. According to Umerov, this approach is expected to cut delivery times from several months to just a few weeks.

More than 80 drone manufacturers — offering over 400 types of UAVs — have submitted commercial proposals to join the DOT-Chain Defense system. Initially, drones from 15 companies will be available, with additional suppliers to be added within a month.

"The pilot launch will involve 10 brigades of the Armed Forces. The Ministry of Defense has allocated UAH 1 billion to the Defense Procurement Agency for this purpose. Using these funds, brigades will be able to order FPV drones through the State Logistics Operator's IT system. In the near future, they will also be able to procure other types of UAVs, electronic warfare tools, and robotic systems," Umerov wrote on Facebook.

The Defense Procurement Agency will be responsible for financing and fulfilling the orders.

The platform enables military units not only to order and reserve equipment, but also to track delivery timelines, provide feedback, and receive prompt support. Manufacturers, in turn, will benefit from direct feedback from users and a transparent mechanism for cooperation with the state.

The DOT-Chain Defense platform is intended to serve as a flexible, transparent, and rapid model for supplying Ukrainian defenders with essential military equipment.

  • In 2025, the state budget allocates over UAH 128 billion for drone procurement through the Defense Procurement Agency.

  • In May, the agency announced it would implement three procurement mechanisms: direct contracts — for unique or specialized drones; framework agreements — competitive tenders for drones with similar specifications (initially focused on FPV drones); DOT-Chain Defense — a marketplace where military units can choose the equipment they need.