Ukraine procures record 1,500 motorcycles for military in 2026

Ukraine's Defense Procurement Agency has signed a contract to purchase 1,500 motorcycles for the armed forces, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced on Wednesday, marking a record annual procurement of the vehicles.

The procurement is three times larger than the total number of motorcycles supplied to the military last year, Fedorov said. All vehicles are expected to be delivered to troops before the end of 2026.

"The entire batch of [vehicles] will reach the military this year," Fedorov said on Telegram.

He said the purchase was conducted through a competitive and transparent tender process in which six companies participated. The competitive bidding reduced costs by nearly Hr.12 million ($271,000), funds that will be redirected toward additional military needs, including the procurement of other vehicles.

Motorcycles remain among the most sought-after vehicles on the battlefield alongside pickup trucks, Fedorov said. Both gasoline-powered and electric motorcycles perform a wide variety of logistical functions, including transporting personnel and drone operators to combat positions and conducting reconnaissance.

Fedorov said Ukraine has previously used similar procurement procedures for what he described as the country's largest purchase of long-range 155mm artillery ammunition. "Competition between participants made it possible to obtain better conditions for the state and further strengthen military supplies," he said.

He added that Ukraine's goal is to gradually expand the use of competitive tender procedures across all defense procurement programs.