Ukrainian soldiers now design custom drones directly for frontline combat needs.

Nov 6, 2025
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Today, the biggest updates come from Ukraine.

Following the launch of the Drone Constructor in the Digital Weapons Marketplace, the first units to use it already showed signs of improvement in procuring equipment for combat missions. This customization capability empowers frontline soldiers to shape their tools for survival, potentially transforming the effectiveness of their operations in critical battlefield scenarios.

The DOT-Chain Defense marketplace, developed by Ukraine's Defense Procurement Agency and State Rear Operator, is a digital platform enabling military units to customize and order drones for specific combat tasks. Units submit specifications they need, and manufacturers respond with offers detailing quantities and production dates. If both the unit and the manufacturer agree to the terms, the order is confirmed, and production begins. This streamlined process ensures drones are purpose-built for frontline requirements, enhancing operational precision and effectiveness. The platform also plans to introduce a rating system for user feedback.

The Drone Constructor is a pioneering feature of Ukraine’s DOT-Chain Defense marketplace, allowing military units to customize drones for specific combat roles. Soldiers use this tool to select precise technical specifications, such as frequencies, flight altitude, camera types and operational range, tailoring drones to mission-critical needs. Once parameters are set, units submit their requests, allowing manufacturers to provide offers. If the offer follows the requirements set by the unit, the order is confirmed, and customized drones are produced. This functionality allows frontline personnel to design mission-specific drones, creating better conditions for success in the battlefield.

The Drone Constructor in the DOT-Chain Defense marketplace addresses the critical need for tailored drone capabilities in Ukraine’s dynamic battlefield. By enabling military units to customize drones with specific frequencies, flight altitudes, camera types and ranges, it ensures equipment aligns precisely with mission demands. This customization reduces reliance on generic drones, which may not suit diverse combat scenarios, from reconnaissance to targeted strikes.

Allowing frontline soldiers to define technical specifications for drones, results in better adaptation to Russian tactics, improving tactical precision and mission success. The system also streamlines procurement by connecting units directly with manufacturers, cutting delivery times and ensuring drones meet exact needs.

Furthermore, it minimizes inefficiencies of traditional supply chains, where misaligned equipment could jeopardize lives. By placing decision-making power with those facing combat realities, the Drone Constructor improves Ukraine’s military response, potentially saving lives and strengthening the frontline.

The Drone Constructor shines in real-world applications, allowing specialized Ukrainian units to adapt drones via precise customizations. Consider the Birds of Magyar Unmanned Systems Brigade, an elite drone assault unit renowned for high-volume FPV strikes. Operating in high-threat zones like Donetsk, they prioritize rapid, low-altitude kamikaze attacks to evade enemy air defenses.

Using the tool, they could customize FPV drones with anti-jamming frequencies for stable control amid electronic warfare, a 50-meter flight ceiling for precision dives on moving tanks, and 10-kilometer ranges to reach isolated enemy convoys. This setup boosts hit rates from 60% to over 80%, enabling the brigade to neutralize dozens of vehicles monthly without risking pilots.

In contrast, the Aerorozvidka aerial reconnaissance unit conducts nighttime patrols across forested Donbas fronts, flying up to 300 missions daily for intel gathering. Their stealthy operations demand undetectable surveillance in difficult visibility conditions. They might configure fixed-wing drones with thermal and night-vision cameras for spotting troop movements in zero visibility, 500-meter altitudes to stay high and undetected, and 20-kilometer or more range for deep rear scouting. Such tweaks extend loiter times to six hours, providing artillery, missile, and air strike teams with real-time coordinates that disrupt Russian logistics.

Overall, the Drone Constructor in the DOT-Chain defense marketplace marks a transformative shift in military logistics by empowering Ukrainian units to tailor drones to precise combat needs, enhancing mission success across diverse battlefield roles. By enabling customization of technical parameters like frequencies, altitudes, and cameras, it aligns equipment with the specific demands of reconnaissance, assault, and surveillance, directly addressing the goal of operational precision. This capability not only boosts frontline adaptability but also redefines procurement as a soldier-driven process, reducing delays and mismatches that could cost lives. Ultimately, it strengthens Ukraine’s military resilience, ensuring units like the Birds of Magyar or Aerorozvidka can execute their specialized functions with unmatched effectiveness.

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