Ukraine's Defense Procurement Agency has announced its first competitive tenders for long-range deep-strike drones and fiber-optic FPV kamikaze drones based on technical specifications defined by the Ministry of Defense.
The purchasing process will evaluate candidate systems by standardized performance criteria rather than commercial model names. Bidding is open to manufacturers and suppliers whose products meet the technical requirements, provided they hold at least one codified product within the relevant class.
Deep-strike uncrewed aerial vehicles are designed to attack targets deep within enemy territory. The agency plans to buy multiple classes of deep-strike drones, differentiated by flight range and warhead weight, that can autonomously execute pre-programmed flight plans.
Each deep-strike drone class features between one and three lots. Under tender rules, a single manufacturer cannot receive more than 50 percent of the order within a single lot, a restriction designed to maintain multiple supply channels and prevent delivery disruptions.
Fiber-optic FPV drone specifications
The state buyer is also procuring fiber-optic first-person view (FPV) drones based on technical specifications rather than brand names for the first time. Arsen Jumadilov, the director of the Defense Procurement Agency, said the competitive model was familiar to the agency from other equipment lines and would expand market access for manufacturers of cable-guided drones.
Fiber-optic FPV drones maintain contact with their operators through a spooling optical cable rather than radio frequencies. Standard FPV drones depend on wireless radio channels for control signals and video transmission, making them vulnerable to interference, whereas tethered drones operate reliably in environments affected by active electronic warfare.
The fiber-optic FPV drones are categorized into classes based on flight distance, which corresponds to optical cable length, as well as camera type. Each FPV class includes four lots, with individual suppliers limited to a maximum of 50 percent of the total volume per class.
Defense procurement catalog expansion
The new drone procurement builds on earlier expansions of Ukraine's defense supply systems. Earlier in August, the agency updated the Prozorro Market electronic procurement catalog by adding body armor and 10 other equipment categories.
The Defense Procurement Agency, often designated as AOZ or State Operator for Logistics (DOT), serves as the centralized purchasing organization for Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, overseeing arms, equipment, and military gear contracts.
