Kyiv has announced it delivered over 1 million first-person view drones to the Ukrainian Armed Forces between January and July this year.
Ukraine described the milestone as significant and confirmed that deliveries will continue, with contracts for more than 2 million drones in place for 2025.
“The Defense Procurement Agency continues efforts to increase the pace of deliveries and ensure that each unit is fully equipped for its combat operations,” said Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal.
“Our priority is to develop the most effective mechanisms for equipping frontline warriors with the drones they need,” added Shmyhal.
Moreover, the war-torn country has introduced new mechanisms to increase drone supplies, including framework agreements and a digital procurement platform called DOT-Chain Defence.
Under the framework, manufacturers are selected based on how well their products meet tactical and technical specifications.
Procurement is conducted through the Prozorro public bidding system to ensure transparency and competitive pricing.
Through the DOT-Chain Defence platform, currently in its pilot phase, military units can directly select the drones they need.
So far, 12 combat brigades have used the system to place targeted orders.
Drone Warfare on the Rise
With drone warfare intensifying and cross-border attacks escalating, Ukraine is stepping up efforts to secure a steady supply of unmanned systems central to its fight against Russia.
While investing in domestic production, the country continues to rely on foreign aid and international partnerships to meet the growing demands of the battlefield.
Last month, US-German company Auterion secured a Pentagon contract to supply 33,000 AI-enabled strike kits for Ukrainian drones, with deliveries expected by the end of the year.
At the same time, Ukrainian defense firm Odd Systems teamed up with Denmark’s Terma Group to develop a low-cost, AI-powered drone interceptor.
In June, the UK announced plans to commit $474 million to increase drone supplies for Kyiv.
The funding is expected to enable the delivery of 100,000 drones this year, a tenfold increase compared to 2024.
