Up to 70% of FPV drones to be procured via DOT-Chain Defence; UGVs to appear on the platform no earlier than next year

The Defence Procurement Agency (AOZ) plans to transfer 70% of state drone purchases to the DOT-Chain Defence platform within six months, agency director Arsen Zhumadilov said at a briefing, “Oboronka” reports.

Since the service launched in August, more than 38,000 drones worth UAH 1.5 billion have been delivered through the platform; the average time from order to delivery was 10 days. The marketplace currently lists 38 manufacturers and 186 drone models. A pilot phase involving 12 brigades is under way on key directions, and the system will be expanded to all units in due course.

Zhumadilov clarified that only types of equipment for which the market is sufficiently mature — i.e. where there are many manufacturers and stable demand from the military — will be migrated to DOT-Chain Defence. “For example, UGVs are actively used by a relatively small number of units. Therefore, until the next year they will be purchased under the old procedure. Afterwards, they will gradually migrate to DOT-Chain Defence. The same will apply to interceptor drones,” he said.

The AOZ team also plans to add a “drone builder” feature to the platform, which will allow military users to choose a configuration tailored to specific tasks, as well as feedback and rating systems to assess product quality.

DOT-Chain Defence is a Ministry of Defence service operating as a marketplace that allows units to order FPV drones, heavy bombers and reconnaissance UAVs directly from manufacturers without approvals from the General Staff and the ministry. A commander can compare prices, specifications and reviews, select models and spend earned e-points awarded for enemy engagements.