Ukraine launches new three-tier drone procurement model for Armed Forces
Ukraine’s Defense Procurement Agency (DPA) has announced the launch of a new procurement model for unmanned systems for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to its official website. The aim is to boost domestic drone production and ensure predictable and rapid delivery of equipment to the military.
"In 2025, the state budget allocates over UAH 128 billion for drone purchases through the Defense Procurement Agency. We are shifting our approach to ensure these funds are used efficiently," said Hlib Kanevskyi, Director of the Procurement Policy Department at the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
The agency will now operate under three distinct procurement mechanisms:
- Direct contracts – for unique or specialized unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs);
- Framework agreements – competitive tenders for drones with similar technical characteristics (initially focusing on FPV drones);
- DOT-Chain Defense – a digital marketplace that allows military units to select equipment directly based on operational needs.
"Through consultations with manufacturers and the military, we identified major bottlenecks: lack of transparency, restricted access to procurement processes, and limited dialogue," explained Arsen Zhumadilov, Director of the Defense Procurement Agency. "That’s why we revised our approach – we've established clear procedures, simplified access, and made the process more predictable. This opens the market to scalable production and enables the state to respond swiftly to the needs of the Armed Forces."
The updated system also introduces supplier verification to ensure national security compliance. Companies will be screened for ties to Russia, Iran, and Belarus, and assessed for adequate production capacity and financial stability.
Verified suppliers will be listed in a dedicated registry to streamline future due diligence and enable fast-track processing of commercial proposals for the Defense Procurement Agency.
