Ukraine will begin using battlefield data to automatically determine which drones its military buys, in a major overhaul aimed at cutting ineffective systems and corruption risks, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said on Tuesday.
Fedorov said he had signed an order introducing a new procurement model under which demand for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will be generated automatically based on real combat performance rather than manual requests.
“From now on, the need for drones will be formed based on high-quality data from the battlefield – without the human factor, subjective influence, or corruption risks,” he wrote on Telegram.
Under the new system, Ukraine’s General Staff will compile requests from frontline units that include only technical requirements – without naming specific drone models or manufacturers.
Which drones are ultimately purchased will be determined by a ranking generated from several Ukrainian military digital platforms:
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eBaly tracks the real-world effectiveness of drones in combat, providing objective metrics such as mission success and target strikes.
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DOT-Chain monitors what units are buying independently, capturing actual frontline demand.
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Brave1 Market supplements this by tracking equipment usage and purchases across units.
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DELTA acts as a battlefield analytics and synchronization platform, coordinating resource use and measuring operational performance.
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Mission Control collects real-time operational data on drone flights and strikes, giving commanders a full picture of battlefield effectiveness.
Fedorov said the goal is to eliminate what he called a “zoo” of ineffective drones that soldiers have sometimes been forced to modify themselves in trenches.
The state will now purchase only systems that have proven they fly, strike targets, and perform effectively in combat.
The reform will also reshape spending priorities.
Under the plan, 80% of the drone procurement budget will be directed toward systems that have demonstrated battlefield effectiveness, while 20% will be reserved for new technologies and experimental systems to be tested in combat conditions.
Fedorov said the changes aim to ensure Ukrainian troops receive the most effective tools on the battlefield while allowing the military to rapidly test new drone technologies as the war evolves.