DPA and DOT presented the functionality of the future DOT-Chain Defence weapons marketplace to the military

The Ministry of Defence’s Procurement Agency (DPA) and the State Operator for Non-Lethal Acquisition (DOT) held an online meeting with representatives from more than fifty military units to present the functionality of the DOT-Chain Defence IT system, which is scheduled to launch soon.

DOT-Chain Defence is a digital platform enabling military units to independently choose weapons procured using DPA funding. During the development of the system, DOT consulted with brigade representatives responsible for logistics and UAV operations, including warriors from the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade and the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade.

Each military unit will access the platform through a unit-specific system account with a designated amount of virtual funds. The platform’s “showcase” section will present a list of all drones available in the system, including specifications such as price, technical details, ratings, and feedback.

When placing an order, a military unit representative can specify the required quantity of drones. If the request exceeds the manufacturer’s current stock, the system will allow pre-orders to be placed. The platform also provides estimated delivery timelines for both in-stock and pre-ordered drones. All bureaucratic aspects of the process—from contracting manufacturers to overseeing delivery—will be managed by the DPA.

“In developing this platform, our primary focus was on the needs of the military. Ensuring their freedom to select was paramount, as they have the best understanding of which UAVs, with the required specifications, best suit specific operational tasks. DOT-Chain Defence provides this opportunity. Furthermore, we are significantly streamlining logistics by enabling direct interaction between military units and suppliers. This will reduce the time from order to delivery at the frontline—first to a matter of weeks, and eventually to days,” explained Arsen Zhumadilov, Director of the Defence Procurement Agency.

Plans include gradually expanding the range of drones, associated ammunition, electronic warfare (EW) and signals/electronic intelligence (SIGINT/ELINT), as well as ground robotic systems. The implementation of DOT-Chain Defence is part of the DPA’s new procurement model for unmanned systems.