DOT-Chain Defence: How the Defense Ministry’s military marketplace moved over 1.2 million drones in a year
A year ago, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s procurement arm, the DOT Agency for Defense Procurement, launched its IT platform DOT-Chain Defence. The system acts as an online marketplace for weaponry. It has already delivered more than 1.2 million drones and other equipment to the defense forces, with total purchases reaching 69.2 billion hryvnias. Delivery times now average nine days, and the number of units using the platform has grown from 12 to 486. This progress highlights how digital procurement has become essential to Ukraine’s wartime supply efforts.
System features and results
The marketplace provides access to 1,181 product lines, spanning the main categories of unmanned systems, their ammunition, and electronic warfare equipment. Around 300 manufacturers are represented. The pilot began with just a few dozen FPV drone models but quickly scaled up, expanding both product diversity and coverage.
One of its core advantages is a less bureaucratic path to acquiring weapons. Orders do not require reports, paper documentation, or approvals, and the procurement agency handles payment. Mstyslav Banik said the platform has become a direct communication link between soldiers and producers in defense procurement, reducing red tape and shortening approval times while maintaining essential oversight.
"The online marketplace became a direct channel between the soldier and the manufacturer in defense purchasing, minimizing bureaucracy and reducing coordination time while keeping the necessary controls in place." Mstyslav Banik
In the last six months, manufacturers that regularly supply through DOT-Chain Defence have significantly increased their production capacity. Arsen Zhumadilov, director of the DOT Agency for Defense Procurement, stressed that competition for military customers has fueled this expansion, allowing Ukraine to set the pace in the global race for defense innovation.
Ukraine’s DOT-Chain Defence experience is drawing international attention. The United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway are studying the platform for possible adoption in their own countries. NATO, France, and the United States have also announced the launch of similar drone marketplaces, underscoring how this approach is gaining traction in defense procurement worldwide.
The system demonstrates how effectively military units can be equipped with modern technology, a critical requirement in today’s conflicts. Rising drone deliveries and shorter supply times reflect the success of reforms that could serve as a model for other nations. As more countries examine Ukraine’s example, global standards for defense procurement and military innovation may continue to rise.