Drone procurement will switch to open tenders as early as this summer
Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov made this statement during a conversation with journalists, according to Forbes Ukraine.
Drone procurement via tenders
This summer, Ukraine plans to switch to open tender procedures for the procurement of drones.
According to Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, the aim of the changes is to create a transparent, competitive and efficient defence procurement system that minimises the risk of corruption.
This concerns one of the most important segments of the defence market, as drones remain a key element of modern warfare.
What has already been tested
Fedorov reported that Ukraine has already conducted the largest competitive procurement of 155mm artillery shells.
According to him, this approach has led to savings of over 16%.
The minister cited this tender as an example of the effectiveness of the competitive model in defence procurement.
Anti-corruption reforms
At the same time, the government is launching a series of anti-corruption reforms in the field of defence procurement.
These include reform of the research and development system.
There are also plans to introduce state-guaranteed quality assurance for defence products.
Guaranteed minimum number of drones for brigades
A separate area of reform involves the introduction of a basic guaranteed minimum supply of drones for brigades.
According to Fedorov, units need to know what minimum number of drones they are guaranteed to receive next month.
This is necessary for planning work and combat operations.
“We need every unit to understand what minimum level of resources they are guaranteed to receive next month for planning work and operations,” Fedorov noted.
The context of defence procurement
Since 2022, Ukraine has significantly overhauled its defence procurement system.
A significant portion of procedures has been fast-tracked due to martial law.
At the same time, the government is gradually returning to competitive mechanisms in those segments where the security situation and the supply market allow it.
The transition to tenders in the drone sector could become one of the biggest structural shifts in the defence procurement system.
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