Ukrainian forces spent roughly $1 billion through Brave1 Market
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A new procurement system launched by Ukraine's Brave1 defense cluster now allows Ukrainian military units to commission drones built to their own specifications.
The system operates through the existing Brave1 Market platform, where military units can request drones tailored to particular operational requirements.
Military units placed roughly $1 billion worth of orders for defense technologies through the platform during its first year of operation.
This digital marketplace currently has over 1,000 defense innovations spanning unmanned aerial vehicles, ground robotic systems, electronic warfare and signals intelligence equipment, specialized components, AI-powered solutions, software applications, and ammunition.
Custom ordering, however, is currently limited to a small slice of that catalog. At this stage, only three drone categories qualify for custom orders: standard FPV strike drones, fiber-optic FPV variants, and fixed-wing interceptors.
Seventeen separate specifications are open to adjustment under the new system, ranging from communication equipment and cameras to payload capacity and flight time.
Submitted requests are routed automatically to a pool of suppliers, each of whom can choose to bid or opt out entirely.
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"All stages of interaction and decision-making are automatically recorded in the system," said Brave1.
If a military unit decides not to proceed with a purchase, it must provide a clearly justified reason for the decision.
Brave1 says the automated approach aims to give military units systems tailored to specific battlefield missions while keeping procurement rules transparent for suppliers.
The system also provides the state with a complete digital record and verified data for every transaction made across the platform.
The platform also allows complaints to be filed against either buyers or suppliers if disputes arise during the process at any later stage.
