Government launches updated register of gunsmiths: Cabinet promises more transparent defense procurement and fewer risks
22 December 17:33
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has adopted a resolution on the creation and operation of an updated register of arms manufacturers – an electronic database of manufacturers and suppliers of defense goods, works and services. This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
The new tool should become a key element in the defense procurement system and introduce uniform rules for access to information about companies working for the security and defense sector.
Why the register is needed
The Ministry of Defense explains that the registry is intended to increase transparency and efficiency of procurement, reduce the risks of cooperation with unscrupulous suppliers and ensure equal conditions of competition in the defense market.
Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal said that the launch of the digital registry is part of the state’s anti-corruption program and a broader strategy for the digitalization of the defense sector.
How it will work
According to the Ministry of Defense, the electronic registry will provide government customers with access to up-to-date and secure information about manufacturers and suppliers, as well as tools for risk assessment. Companies, for their part, will receive more transparent and clear conditions for participation in defense procurement.
In the future, the military and political leadership will be able to use the registry data to analyze the real capabilities of Ukraine’s defense industry.
The registry will operate as a closed system with distributed access rights
According to the developers, this should minimize the risks of sensitive information leakage under martial law.
Oksana Ferchuk, Deputy Minister of Defense for Digitalization, explained that previously, due to limited access to data on arms manufacturers, government customers were often forced to look for suppliers directly or through informal channels. This, she said, narrowed competition and created additional corruption risks.
The new registry should ensure secure and formalized interaction
The new registry should ensure secure and formalized interaction: customers will be able to send requests for quotations through the system and receive verified information, and companies will be able to see all relevant requests in their own electronic accounts.
The launch of the register of arms manufacturers comes amid preparations for a large-scale audit of defense companies. On December 23, the State Audit Service of Ukraine plans to start audits in the defense sector.
