The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (MoD) is implementing recommendations from the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) aimed at eliminating corruption risks during the planning stage of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) procurement. This approach is mandated by a new Ministry of Defense order signed by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Mykhailo Fedorov.
According to the order, the requirement for UAVs will be established based on actual battlefield data and the verified effectiveness of specific solutions during combat operations.
In the study “Corruption Risks in the Procurement of Unmanned Systems and Electronic Warfare Equipment for the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” the NACP specifically emphasized risks associated with excessive discretionary powers of officials during the requirement-definition stage, the lack of proper consideration of information regarding the effectiveness of products on the battlefield, and the practice of defining requirements by specific product names, which creates the preconditions for potential abuse during the procurement of UAVs.
To minimise these risks, the NACP recommended that the MoD develop and amend regulatory and departmental acts to ensure requirements and procurement lists are based on substantiated data regarding specific defence goods. The Agency also recommended establishing a clear feedback mechanism from military units regarding the combat effectiveness of UAVs and electronic warfare (EW) systems. Specifically, this involves utilising information and communication systems such as DOT-Chain, DELTA, and other digital solutions to collect and analyse data on equipment performance.
The approach introduced by the Ministry aligns with these recommendations. By defining requirements based on technical specifications, focusing on proven combat performance, and allocating the majority of resources to solutions with demonstrated effectiveness, the MoD is establishing safeguards against biased decisions, unjustified lobbying for specific weapon models, and the inefficient use of budget funds.
The further digitalisation of defence procurement procedures and the commitment to minimising corruption risks contribute to building integrity and implementing international standards within the security and defence sector.
