Ukraine’s weapons procurement system provides NATO with a valuable example

At the end of 2024, Ukraine launched a new program that replaced the centralized procurement system. Under it, military units receive fixed sums to purchase drones and other weapons. They choose the manufacturers themselves and decide what to buy from a list approved by the government, which includes unmanned aerial vehicles, ground robotic systems and electronic warfare equipment.

“The new procurement system marked an important step away from centralized Soviet-style bureaucracy and was a response to the logistical challenges of Kyiv’s grueling war against Russia. It also reflects a shift in combat operations from massive mechanized assaults to increasingly flexible tactics using UAVs,” Serhiy Kuzan, head of the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation, wrote in an article.

In six months, units received about $312 million through the special program, allowing them to quickly purchase needed weapons.

Volodymyr Shchur, commander of the unmanned systems battalion of the 35th Marine Brigade, noted that technology is advancing rapidly, especially in the field of electronic warfare. Equipment considered state-of-the-art in January had already lost its effectiveness by March, he said.

“Previously we had to modify drones ourselves, which took time and money. Now they arrive in 10–15 days,” he said.

For now, the unit’s main need is drone operators. Information about this is available on the website of the Navy’s 3rd Recruitment Center.