Ukraine Delivers Over One Million FPV Drones to Frontline Troops in First Half of 2025

In a major boost to its battlefield capabilities, Ukraine has delivered more than one million FPV (first-person view) drones to its frontline troops in the first half of 2025. This large-scale effort, coordinated by the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA), is part of a broader plan to supply over two million such drones by the end of the year.

According to Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal, the goal is clear: get the right drones into the hands of soldiers who need them most. “Our priority is to develop the most effective mechanisms for providing soldiers on the front lines with the necessary drones,” he said. “We are working to increase the pace of supply so that each unit receives exactly what it needs to perform its combat tasks.”

The drones, commonly used for reconnaissance and explosive strikes, have become a defining element of modern warfare in Ukraine’s ongoing defence against Russian forces. The delivery of such a massive number in just six months shows how Ukraine is rapidly scaling its domestic drone production and procurement processes.

Arsen Zhumadilov, Director of the Defence Procurement Agency, stressed that the million-drone milestone is just the beginning. “We are focusing on even larger volumes. We have launched additional tools for the mass supply of UAVs,” he said.

To make procurement faster and more flexible, Ukraine has adopted new approaches. One of these is contracting based on tactical and technical specifications (TTS), which allows a wider range of drone manufacturers to participate by meeting performance standards rather than selling only pre-named products. This strategy helps expand the supplier base and encourages competition through the Prozorro public procurement system.

Ukraine is also piloting the DOT-Chain Defence IT platform, a kind of digital marketplace where military units can select the drones that best fit their operational needs. So far, 12 combat brigades are actively placing targeted drone orders through the platform, giving commanders more say in the gear their troops receive.

Zhumadilov added that framework agreements through Prozorro and DOT-Chain have become essential to ensure high-quality drones are delivered efficiently and transparently using state budget funds.

While this surge in FPV drone delivery is a technical achievement, it also signals Ukraine's increasing focus on technological innovation and decentralized logistics in warfare. The country is clearly investing in tools and platforms that can sustain and evolve its military response over the long term.

With over a million drones already deployed in just six months and more on the way, Ukraine is not just keeping pace with modern warfare—it is actively shaping it.