DOT-Chain Defence: one in five drones procured by Ukraine’s Defence Procurement Agency DOT is delivered through the marketplace — how does it work?
Since DOT-Chain Defence launched in July 2025, one in five drones procured by the Defence Procurement Agency DOT of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has been delivered to the military through this online marketplace.
What can units order on DOT-Chain Defence?
Equipment available to the military on DOT-Chain Defence includes:
- all main types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and ammunition for them;
- unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and electronic warfare (EW) systems.
More than 500 combat units of the Defence Forces of Ukraine use the system.
What are the advantages of ordering equipment for the military through the marketplace?
Unlike the Defence Procurement Agency DOT’s other contracting mechanisms, namely competitive procurement based on tactical and technical specifications and direct procurement based on defined lists, DOT-Chain Defence gives units in the field the ability to choose directly.
The system operates like an online store, where military units use state funds to independently choose which equipment the state will provide them with.
How fast do military units receive equipment through DOT-Chain Defence?
For items available in stock, the average delivery time from order placement to shipment to the military is eight days. For pre-orders, it is one and a half months.
Speed of delivery is especially important for unmanned systems, as technology in this field is evolving rapidly. Manufacturers and the military are constantly improving solutions and adapting them to new countermeasures. With DOT-Chain Defence, units can promptly receive up-to-date equipment to respond effectively to changes in the combat situation.
How does ordering on the marketplace work?
Military units place orders in DOT-Chain Defence themselves, while the Defence Procurement Agency DOT provides procurement support, including concluding contracts with manufacturers and making payments. As a result, ordering takes just a few clicks.
The Ministry of Defence previously reported that since the start of 2026, the military has received more than one million UAVs and other equipment through DOT-Chain Defence.
