Fifteen months ago, Ukraine’s online arms store for front-line units didn’t exist. Now, it delivers 1 in 5 drones that state buys

Fifteen months ago, Ukraine's online arms store for front-line units did not exist. Today, it delivers one in five drones purchased by Ukraine's Defense Procurement Agency. This state digital marketplace, DOT-Chain Defence, was established in 2025 and allows combat units to order what they need directly. The rapid pace of drone technology development necessitated this solution, as an item ordered through months of paperwork could quickly become obsolete before reaching the battlefield.

Launched in July 2025, DOT-Chain Defence now serves over 500 combat units, offering a more efficient and agile approach to procurement compared to the agency's traditional channels, which include central competitive tenders and fixed procurement lists. The system operates like an online store, where commanders can browse and select from a catalog of unmanned aerial vehicles, bombers, fixed-wing aircraft, munitions, ground robotic systems, and electronic-warfare gear.

Speed is a critical factor for Ukraine's military, as the average time from order to shipment for in-stock items is eight days, while pre-orders take about a month and a half. DOT-Chain Defence chief Artem Romaniukov emphasizes that this speed is particularly important for unmanned systems, as technology in this field evolves rapidly and requires constant redesign to counter new countermeasures.

The shift to this digital marketplace relieves the burden from the fighters, who can now build their own orders through the platform, with the agency handling procurement, signing contracts with manufacturers, and managing payments. In the first nine months of 2024, Ukraine's troops received more than a million drones and other equipment through this system, contributing to a drone-buying surge that reached approximately $8 billion in the first half of the year.