---
title: "AOZ: Drone procurement surges by 300%, DOT-Chain Defence marketplace serves 500+ Defense Forces units"
description: "In 2026, the DPA purchased 300% more drones than in all of 2025, while the DOT-Chain Defence marketplace, serving 500+ units, delivered over 1.4 million items worth UAH 95 billion."
date: 2026-10-21T07:06:09.851Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/aoz-procurement-2026-dot-chain-defence-drones
tags: [ukraine-defense-procurement, dot-chain-defence, uav-drone, military-marketplace, ukraine-army, artillery]
author: "Marina Slivenko"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# AOZ: Drone procurement surges by 300%, DOT-Chain Defence marketplace serves 500+ Defense Forces units

![AOZ procurement head Artem Romanyukov against the background of Ukrainian military drones and the DOT-Chain Defence logo](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/21/aoz-zakupki-2026-dot-chain-defence-bespilotniki/aoz-zakupki-2026-dot-chain-defence-bespilotniki-1.webp)

## Key Points

- UAV contracting volume (excluding FPV) in 2026 grew by 300% compared to the entire year of 2025
- Over 500 Defense Forces units are connected to the DOT-Chain Defence marketplace
- More than 1.4 million items worth over UAH 95 billion have been delivered via the platform
- Tactical missiles and aircraft were included in the procurement nomenclature for the first time
- The largest procurement by value—155mm artillery rounds with a 16% discount—was completed

In 2026, the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA) significantly expanded the range and scale of supplies for the Defense Forces of Ukraine. According to data voiced in an interview with RBC-Ukraine by Acting Agency Director Artem Romanyukov, this year tactical missiles and aircraft were included in the procurement list for the first time, and the contracting volume for unmanned systems (excluding FPV drones) exceeded the figures for the entire 2025 by 300%. The online marketplace DOT-Chain Defence, launched in July 2025 as a pilot project for 12 brigades, currently connects over 500 units of the Armed Forces, National Guard, State Border Guard Service, and National Police.

### New categories and record procurements

The DPA reported that in 2026 the agency announced the largest competitive procedure for vehicles in the history of public procurement—the purchase of 5,000 pickups for the Defense Forces. The most expensive procurement in the entire history of the agency was also completed: the supply of 155mm long-range artillery rounds, where competition between suppliers saved 16% of the initial amount, which, according to the agency's estimate, amounts to billions of hryvnias. Women's body armor and anti-shrapnel suits were added to the clothing supply nomenclature, while quad bikes, motorcycles, and buggies were added to the transport group.

### Unmanned systems: 300% growth and FPV drone dynamics

A key focus of 2026 was unmanned systems. The DPA contracted 300% more UAVs (excluding FPV drones) than during the entire year of 2025. For FPV drones, contracting volume grew by 54%, while actual deliveries increased by nearly 3.7 times. The agency emphasizes that the product list is formed based on needs determined by the General Staff and the Ministry of Defense, and the DPA's task is to meet these needs as efficiently as possible by fostering competition and shortening delivery times.

### DOT-Chain Defence: From pilot to a system of 1,300 items

The DOT-Chain Defence marketplace, which started with FPV drones, features about 1,300 items from nearly 300 Ukrainian manufacturers as of October 2026. Since the end of July 2025, more than 1.4 million units of equipment worth over UAH 95 billion have been delivered through the platform. The weighted average delivery time from warehouse is 8 days, and for custom-made products, it is 37 days. The military independently selects equipment in accordance with unit needs, while the agency takes care of supplier verification, contracting, payment, and contract execution control.

### Impact on the market and development plans

The DPA notes that the marketplace has a structural impact on the defense market: manufacturers compete not only on price, but also on quality, terms, and service, while small companies have gained the opportunity to enter the market and scale production. Accumulated data—product ratings based on actual orders and military evaluations—are already being used to form the product list for centralized direct contracts. The agency names the expansion of nomenclature and the improvement of platform functionality as the next stage. According to DPA representatives, the change in leadership has not led to a halt in procurements: the institution remains stable and continues to fulfill obligations to the Defense Forces.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Тактические ракеты, самолеты и 5 000 пикапов: что нового закупает АОЗ для войск и чего не хватает](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/taktichni-raketi-litaki-ta-5-000-pikapiv-1792491234.html) - The sole source is an interview with the acting director of the DPA. All quantitative data (300%, UAH 95 billion, 1.4 million units) are self-reported by the agency. There is no independent confirmation, but the source is a specialized business publication, and the data comes directly from the head of the department.

## FAQ

### What is DOT-Chain Defence and when was it launched?

DOT-Chain Defence is an online marketplace of the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA), launched in July 2025 as a pilot project for 12 brigades. By October 2026, more than 500 Defense Forces units were connected to the platform. The catalog includes about 1,300 items from nearly 300 Ukrainian manufacturers.

### How much did drone procurement grow in 2026?

According to the DPA, the contracting volume of unmanned systems (excluding FPV drones) in 2026 grew by 300% compared to the entire year of 2025. For FPV drones, contracts grew by 54%, and actual deliveries increased by nearly 3.7 times.

### Who is currently the head of the DPA?

Since September 2026, the acting head of the Defense Procurement Agency is Artem Romanyukov, who presented the agency's 2026 performance results in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.

### What new procurement categories appeared in 2026?

In 2026, tactical missiles and aircraft entered the DPA nomenclature for the first time. Quad bikes, motorcycles, buggies, women's body armor, and anti-shrapnel suits were also added.