Fedorov signs order on new approach to defense procurement of UAVs
Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced that he signed an order establishing a new approach to defense procurement of UAVs. From now on, drone requirements will be determined based on high-quality data from the battlefield, eliminating human error, subjective influence, and corruption risks.
"The transition from manual requirements generation to an automated model will eliminate the ‘zoo’ of ineffective solutions that the military is forced to tinker with in the trenches. The state will only purchase what actually flies, hits targets, and has proven its effectiveness on the front lines," he wrote on Telegram.
The minister explained the new procurement process. At the request of units, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will compile a list containing only the technical specifications of the equipment, without naming the UAVs or the specific manufacturer. The specific UAVs to be purchased for frontline units, based on combat data from digital systems such as ePoints, DOT-Chain, Brave1 Market, DELTA, and Mission Control, will be determined by the UAV rating system.
"This is the first time procurement decisions are being made automatically based on real combat data. If a drone doesn’t fly or doesn’t hit targets, the system simply won’t generate a requirement for it. Only the actual combat results matter," Fedorov said.
He also said the agency is implementing a new approach to budget allocation: 80% of funds are allocated exclusively to solutions that have proven their effectiveness based on system data; 20% is reserved for innovation and the procurement of new developments for combat testing. This allows for the rapid validation of new technologies without unnecessary bureaucracy.
"Such decisions will help strengthen the Defense Forces, provide the military with the most effective tools on the battlefield, and inflict losses on Russia that will make its advancement impossible," Fedorov said.
Earlier, at a meeting with journalists, the Minister of Defense announced his intention to systematically review the drone fleet and eliminate ineffective solutions. Fedorov emphasized that the Ministry of Defense’s next goal is to "form a real need based on high-quality data and eliminate the zoo of ineffective solutions."