Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence has launched its first large-scale competitive tender for middle-strike unmanned aerial systems (UAS), marking a major shift in how the military procures autonomous systems.
The ministry’s Defence Procurement Agency said the acquisition will cover “tens of thousands” of standard attack and reconnaissance-strike drones from multiple suppliers.
Instead of specifying particular drone models, the tender evaluates platforms against tactical and technical requirements, allowing any Ukrainian manufacturer that meets the standards to participate.
Among the key requirements are jam-resistant communications systems capable of supporting long-range operations.
Contracts will be split among two to four suppliers in each UAS category, with no single company eligible to receive more than 50 percent of a procurement lot.
The ministry said the competition will be conducted in a secure environment to protect sensitive information.
It also plans to expand the competitive procurement approach to deep-strike, first-person view, and other drone categories later this year.
Reforming Drone Procurement
Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said the new process is part of a broader procurement reform aimed at increasing competition, improving transparency, and reducing manual intervention.
“Transitioning to transparent rules and competitive procurement is a key element of our defense procurement reform and our anti-corruption track,” he explained. “This approach has already proven its effectiveness in the competitive procurement of long-range 155mm ammo, yielding savings of over 16%.”
“This allows us to rapidly scale the most effective frontline solutions and strengthen Ukraine’s advantage over the enemy,” Fedorov added.
