Celebrating Army+'s Anniversary: Unveiling Five Ways the App Supports the Military
In the past year, the implementation of the "Army+" initiative has brought about significant changes in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, focusing on technology integration, digitalization, and enhanced drone capabilities.
Launched by the Ministry of Defense last December, Army+ has become a pivotal tool for the military, digitizing over 40 reports for various service cases and streamlining operations. The app, which was met with anticipation, anxiety, and excitement, has since processed over 720,000 sheets of paper due to the digitization of reports, saving paper, fuel, and time.
One of the key developments has been the advancement of drone warfare. In 2024, Ukraine formed a distinct drone forces branch, underscoring a strategic pivot to leveraging unmanned systems for reconnaissance and combat roles across different domains (air, land, sea). This reflects a broader trend within the "Army+" modernization to prioritize technology-driven tactics to compensate for personnel shortages on the frontline.
Discussions between President Zelensky and the new Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal have highlighted priorities to accelerate contracting and deployment of drone systems and other tech upgrades, aiming at enhancing strike effectiveness against Russian targets.
The "Army+" approach is also part of an ongoing effort to balance grassroots innovation with centralized military-industrial coordination. Despite early decentralization and wartime ingenuity delivering rapid innovation, there are growing calls to unify procurement and regulate locally procured equipment to reduce corruption and inefficiency.
International support and training have played a crucial role in the modernization drive. The UK and other partners have contributed substantially to the modernization effort via financial aid for new missile systems, air defense technologies, and expanded personnel training programs, reinforcing the Ukraine Armed Forces’ capabilities and supporting Army+ objectives.
Educational courses have been launched in the app, focusing on new military doctrines such as drones, ground-based robotic systems, and situational awareness led on a tablet. These courses have helped over 43,500 soldiers transfer to their desired locations, with the decision-making process for transfers reduced to 72 hours.
The Plus program within Army+ has been used over 40,000 times by soldiers and their loved ones, offering discounts and services on everyday needs like fuel, deliveries, books, equipment, and cinema tickets. A survey about reports in Army+ was completed by 21,000 users, with 80% indicating that they should continue to be implemented.
A new report, "Return to Service After SZCH," allows over 2,000 soldiers to quickly return to service. The Plus program has also helped in the digitization of over 1,500 military units, marking a significant step towards reforming the structure of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, known for its secrecy and lack of flexibility.
Kateryna Chernohorенko, a civilian expert, introduced a new culture of services in the army, with the service now including a single report that can be filled out in the app within a few minutes. Interestingly, 67% of respondents in the survey indicated that the full abolition of paper reports would help to use electronic reports more.
In conclusion, the "Army+" initiative significantly accelerated Ukraine's shift toward a high-tech, drone-centric combat force with increased digital integration and multinational partnerships, while also revealing challenges in procurement oversight and sustainable unit-level support.
- The discussions between President Zelensky and Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal have emphasized the need for increased investment in technology, with a focus on enhancing drone systems, as part of the broader Army+ modernization strategy that aims to deploy tech upgrades to boost strike effectiveness against Russian targets.
- With the Army+ app now offering educational courses on new military doctrines like drones, ground-based robotic systems, and situational awareness led on a tablet, there has been a shift towards more efficient processes, such as rapid transfer of soldiers to their desired locations within 72 hours.
