Ukraine is the only nation buying weapons through tenders during war – expert

Ukraine stands alone among nations in purchasing weapons through open tenders during wartime, according to the Executive Director of the Ukrainian Council of Weapons Manufacturers, Ihor Fedirko. Speaking to Radio NV on August 25, Fedirko emphasized that almost all funding from the European Union and allies must be directed towards acquiring weapons and military equipment via tenders within Ukraine.

While Ukraine had previously used tenders, the current emphasis is on making defense procurement as transparent as possible. Fedirko acknowledged that the approach has both detractors and staunch supporters, but the council maintains its support for the system. He stressed that Ukraine is arguably the only country in history to procure weapons through tenders during an ongoing conflict on its own territory, marking a historic precedent.

The weapons procurement tenders in Ukraine come with a stipulation that no individual company can secure more than 50% of any given lot, aimed at fostering competition among suppliers and averting potential delivery failures on large orders. Fedirko highlighted that tenders have been utilized for a wide range of equipment, including deep strike capabilities, FPV and fiber-optic drones, 155mm long-range artillery shells, bombers, mid-strikes, and even motorcycles.

While the process is advancing, it is not progressing as swiftly as desired. The European Union recently agreed on a €90 billion loan package for Ukraine, providing predictable funding for 2026-2027, with €60 billion earmarked for military assistance and €30 billion allocated for economic support.