In 2026, the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA) significantly expanded the range of products it acquires for the Defense Forces of Ukraine. Alongside traditional weapons, ammunition, and military equipment, this year's procurement portfolio includes tactical missiles and aircraft for the first time, as well as light off-road vehicles—quad bikes, motorcycles, and buggies. The agency provided these data in an RBC-Ukraine report dedicated to new military procurements and deficit items.
New Categories in the Procurement Portfolio
According to DPA representatives, the agency covers a wide spectrum of Defense Forces needs: from weapons, ammunition, and military equipment to unmanned systems, transport, clothing property, nutrition, and fuel. Among the new categories appearing this year, besides tactical missiles and aircraft, are quad bikes, motorcycles, and buggies. In the clothing and gear sector, female body armor and anti-fragmentation suits have appeared for the first time.
Record-Breaking Tenders for Vehicles and Artillery
According to the DPA, in 2026 the agency announced the largest competitive vehicle procurement procedure in the history of public procurement—the purchase of 5,000 pickup trucks for the Defense Forces. It also completed the most expensive procurement in the agency's operational history: 155mm long-range artillery rounds. Due to competition among suppliers, the DPA estimates it saved 16% of the initial amount, or about one billion hryvnias. In June, the agency announced a new competitive tender for extended-range 155mm artillery rounds; according to Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, the first tender using this approach became a record in terms of long-range ammunition volume, and the saved 16%+ of the expected cost was channeled into tens of thousands of additional rounds.
Drones: Sharp Increase in Contract Volumes
The most noticeable growth, according to the DPA, was recorded in the unmanned systems segment. The volume of contracts for drones (excluding FPVs) surged by 300% compared to the entire year of 2025. Contracting for FPV drones increased by 54%, while their actual delivery grew nearly 3.7 times.
Leadership and Operating Principles
Artem Romanyukov, who previously served as the agency's development director, has been acting director of the DPA since September 1, 2026. He explained that the list of procured items is formed in accordance with the needs defined by the General Staff and the Ministry of Defense, and the agency's task is to meet these needs as efficiently as possible, foster competition, and shorten delivery times for the military.
Thus, in 2026, the defense procurement profile shifted toward more complex and expensive items—ranging from tactical missiles and aviation to record batches of long-range artillery and a massive vehicle fleet, with supplier competition cited by the agency as the key tool for saving money and accelerating deliveries.
