Ukraine's procurement agency launches first tender for fiber-optic FPV drones with unified specs

Ukraine's Defense Procurement Agency (DPA) has announced a tender for the purchase of FPV attack drones controlled via fiber-optic cable. For the first time, the agency is ordering this type of unmanned aerial vehicle based on standardized tactical and technical specifications approved by the Ministry of Defense, rather than by specific model names.

The approach, previously used for other weapon categories, is now extended to fiber-optic FPV drones to broaden the pool of eligible manufacturers, maintain competition, and ensure transparency, according to DPA Director Arsen Zhumadilov.

The drones are divided into classes based on parameters such as flight range, fiber-optic cable length, and camera type. Each class includes four lots. A diversification mechanism limits any single participant to winning no more than 50% of the total procurement volume within a class. This means supplies within each class will be split among several manufacturers to mitigate the risk of contract failure.

One key requirement for potential suppliers is having at least one codified product in the class of disposable fiber-optic FPV drones. The tender is now open, with applications accepted until April 21, 2025.