Ukraine’s troops order 590,000 drones; interceptors overtake FPVs 

Ukrainian military units ordered more than 590,000 uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) through the government-run Brave1 Market platform between January and September 2026, according to figures published by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on September 25, 2026. 

Interceptor drones were the most frequently ordered category over the period, followed by copter-type first-person view (FPV) kamikaze drones, the ministry said. The average monthly value of orders has more than doubled since January 2026.  

Interceptor drones become Ukraine’s most-ordered UAVs 

The ministry’s interceptor category covers two types of system: drones designed to hunt Russian reconnaissance UAVs, and dedicated interceptors intended to counter Shahed-type one-way attack drones.  

Demand for the latter comes as Russia fields faster, jet-powered variants of the Shahed. On September 15, 2026, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported a successful test of a new Ukrainian interceptor against jet-powered Shahed drones, while saying further refinement was needed. 

Fixed-wing kamikaze drones recorded the fastest growth of any category. At peak activity, Ukrainian units were ordering six times as many as they had at the start of 2026, the ministry noted, without identifying the month in question. 

Bomber drones accounted for the largest share of spending, while mothership drones ranked among the most expensive technology segments. 

Brave1 turns battlefield results into procurement power 

Brave1 Market is linked to Ukraine’s ePoints program, under which military units earn points for completed combat missions, including confirmed target hits, reconnaissance and robotic logistics and evacuation missions. 

The points can then be exchanged through the marketplace for drones, uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs), and electronic warfare (EW) systems. 

According to the ministry, the system allows higher-performing units to acquire more equipment, while also giving manufacturers real-time data about how their products are being used, including how many missions they have completed and which units use them most. 

Units are also able to purchase equipment using their own funds. Custom drone orders, a newer Brave1 Market feature, are currently limited to purchases made through that route. 

Ukraine scales a procurement model attracting foreign interest 

On June 24, 2026, the ministry announced that more than 400 units had joined the updated ePoints program and had ordered equipment worth more than UAH 33 billion ($735 million) in less than a year. 

A month later, it reported that June orders exceeded UAH 5 billion ($111 million), the highest monthly total since the ePoints program began. Average delivery time for items held in stock had also fallen to eight days, from 10-14 days previously. 

The Brave1 model has also drawn interest outside Ukraine. Airbus Defence and Space became the platform’s first Western industrial partner in July 2026, while Canada has said its new defense drone marketplace is modeled on Brave1. The post Ukraine’s troops order 590,000 drones; interceptors overtake FPVs  appeared first on AeroTime.

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