Drone procurement on the Ukrainian model: US Army launches its 'drone Amazon'

For decades, arms procurement was centralised, standardised and tightly regulated by law. With the online marketplaces that the Ukrainian military has built for its fighters, drone procurement breaks fundamentally with this tradition.

The Ukrainian government broke new ground with 'Brave1 Market' and 'DOT-Chain Defence': these online portals offer hundreds of drones and other military goods. They travel directly from the manufacturer to units at the front within five to ten days.

Now the US Army is following suit. On 24 March, the 'Unmanned Aircraft Systems Marketplace' went live, a marketplace for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). It is intended as a one-stop shop: US Army units, as well as government partners and allied nations, are to be able to access and procure already vetted drone solutions quickly and efficiently.

The UAS Marketplace is a prime example of how the Army is transforming its acquisition processes to become more agile, competitive and effective— Brent G. Ingraham, US Army acquisition executive

By lowering barriers to market entry and working with a broader range of industrial innovators, we are building a more resilient and responsive defence industry, which is essential to equip our forces and deter our adversaries.— Brent G. Ingraham

Drone procurement through competition

According to the US Army, the platform is not simply a digital showroom. It marks a clear departure from traditional, slower procurement methods and is to play a central role as the US Army overhauls its acquisition processes.

A transparent, competition-driven environment is intended to spur innovation and broaden the industrial base. At the same time, it is to make a wider range of drone capabilities available that keeps pace with the changing demands of the modern battlefield.

The UAS Marketplace is a revolutionary approach to procurement— Colonel Danielle Medaglia, US Army project manager for UAS

By fostering competition and innovation, we ensure that soldiers have access to the most advanced technologies to meet their mission requirements. This strategy is about delivering capabilities quickly and at scale.— Colonel Danielle Medaglia