Ukraine’s Brave1 defense-technology initiative has expanded its “Army of Drones. Bonus” (ePoints) program, a digital incentive system that allows frontline units to exchange verified drone strikes for drones, electronics, and other urgently needed equipment.
Brave1, the government-run tech accelerator responsible for fast-tracking new defense capabilities, says the program is reshaping how Ukraine’s armed forces engage with drone warfare.
According to the organization, the system both improves battlefield outcomes and rewards operational effectiveness — all based on video-verified results submitted through Ukraine’s digital DELTA situational awareness platform.
“The Army of Drones Bonus program has already reshaped how modern warfare is perceived,” Brave1 said in a statement. “We are building a system that adapts to the realities of the front line and rewards the most effective units.”
The core principle is simple: confirmed drone hits translate into ePoints — a digital currency that can be spent in the Brave1 Market to acquire additional unmanned systems, sensors, or mission-critical support gear. Units who perform effectively gain more drones and maintain operational momentum without having to navigate traditional supply chains.
In response to evolving battlefield needs, Brave1 updated the program in September to double the number of points awarded for hitting or eliminating enemy personnel. The move is intended to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to counter small enemy infantry groups — one of the more difficult and frequent threats along the front.
In a marked shift in tactical priorities, the program also now grants ten times more ePoints for capturing an enemy soldier using a drone than for eliminating one. Brave1 says this change incentivizes intelligence-gathering and prisoner recovery over pure attrition.
“Units now receive ten times more points for capturing an enemy soldier with the help of a drone than for destroying them,” Brave1 stated.
According to data released by the agency, Ukrainian UAV units reported over 18,000 enemy soldiers hit or eliminated by drones in September alone — all backed by video confirmation. That figure represents double the number reported in October 2024 and demonstrates both the scale of drone usage and the central role verification now plays in Ukraine’s digital battlefield.
In just two and a half months, units participating in the program have used their earned ePoints to request over UAH 4 billion (roughly $100 million) worth of gear through the Brave1 Market.
This performance-based rewards model not only encourages precise targeting and careful documentation but also creates a rapid feedback loop between frontline action and logistical resupply.
In a conflict increasingly defined by unmanned systems and information dominance, Brave1’s model offers a glimpse into how technology and combat performance may be tied together on future battlefields.