Ukraine’s top military marketplace has processed $235 million in orders. Now it goes further, letting units spec a custom drone across 17 characteristics

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has announced a new tool on the state defense-technology marketplace Brave1 Market, enabling military units to order custom-built drones with specific characteristics. This shift from serial drone models to a made-to-order system is a response to the ongoing Russian war, which has necessitated a revamp of military procurement processes.

Brave1 has already facilitated more than $235 million in orders through this new system. Previously, military units selected from pre-made drone options, but now they can specify their requirements across more than 17 characteristics, including communication type, camera specifications, payload weight, and flight duration. The custom order process involves defining the desired drone, submitting a request with specifications, quantity, and delivery timelines, and selecting from various parameters.

The manufacturer, unaware of the requesting unit's identity, automatically sends the request to potential suppliers who can offer or decline participation. Units remain anonymous, preventing makers from favoring certain units and ensuring competition based on the drone itself. Once offers match, the system initiates an auction, with the lowest-priced offer winning.

Military units can then directly contract the winning maker, cutting out intermediaries and driving costs down while meeting the specified requirements.