Ukrainian manufacturers invited to bid in Western-led Coalition of Drones tenders for first time ever

Ukrainian drone technology manufacturers will be able to bid for tenders organised by the Drone Coalition within the framework of the Ukrainian Defence Contact Group, also known as the Ramstein format, for the first time ever.

Source: press service for Ukraine's Defence Ministry

Details: The press service announced that the tender series will feature two lots: one for the production of advanced First-Person View (FPV) drones and another for interceptor UAVs. This marks the first time Ukrainian companies have been invited to participate, a significant move to bolster domestic production.

"Manufacturers interested in bidding for the tender must register on the UK Ministry of Defence website and submit their applications. The deadline for proposals for FPV drones is 14 October, while applications for interceptor drones will be accepted until 11 November," the ministry said.

All applications submitted will be evaluated by members of the Drone Coalition, who will then select the winning proposals.

The winning companies will receive orders for the production of drones for further testing and evaluation. If the test results are successful, a large-scale order of FPV drones from the winning companies is planned.

"The goal of this coalition is to ensure the mass production of FPV drones to create a technological advantage over the enemy in the long term. It is important not only to scale up production in the West but also to support Ukrainian companies capable of producing such equipment. Therefore, for the first time, we are engaging domestic producers to bid for tenders," said Kateryna Chernohorenko, Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Defence for Digitalisation.

Background:

• The Drone Coalition was formed in February 2024 during the 19th Ramstein-format meeting, following an initiative proposed by Latvia and coordinated with the United Kingdom.
• The Coalition consists of 16 partner countries that are already providing Ukraine with drones. With a pooled fund of €50 million, the Coalition aims to procure an additional 20,000 to 30,000 drones for Ukraine’s defence.

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