Ukraine has broadened its digital defense procurement system by enabling military units to order ground robotic systems directly through the DOT Chain Defence marketplace. This move enhances battlefield automation and gives frontline formations greater autonomy in acquiring unmanned ground platforms for evacuation, resupply, ammunition transport, and related missions.
The capability builds on a growing online defense marketplace that now lists over 470 products from 135 manufacturers, ranging from FPV drones and fiber-optic UAVs to interceptor drones and electronic warfare systems. Ground robots, once available only through the specialized “Army of Drones Bonus” program, are now part of the standard catalog accessible to all units.
DOT Chain Defence allows formations to browse equipment options and submit orders directly, while the Defence Procurement Agency oversees financing, contracting, and delivery coordination to ensure rapid fulfillment.
Introduced in July 2025, the platform began with a pilot involving roughly 10 brigades and a budget of 1 billion hryvnia ($23 million). The early phase significantly reduced procurement delays, cutting wait times from months to weeks and delivering more than 17,000 drones within two months.
Rapid scaling followed. By October 2025, 130 brigades had access to the system, supported by expanded funding, and average delivery times for stocked drones dropped to about 10 days. In November, cumulative FPV drone deliveries reached 100,000 units. Continued integration through late 2025 and early 2026 expanded participation to approximately 180 units.
As of January 2026, the platform had delivered over 225,000 strike assets to Ukrainian forces, relying entirely on domestic production and greatly accelerating the path from procurement decision to operational use.
