Islamabad | 1 Oct 2026
US drone manufacturer Powerus has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Pakistan Army covering an initial drone-related order and negotiations over local production, deepening defence cooperation as Islamabad seeks to reduce its dependence on Chinese military equipment. The company is linked to US President Donald Trump’s sons through investments in its merger partner, but it is not owned by the Trump family.
Powerus Confirms Initial Pakistan Drone Order
Powerus co-founder Brett Velicovich confirmed that the agreement includes an initial order involving unmanned aerial systems. He declined to disclose the value, quantity or technical specifications, citing confidentiality and security considerations.
The agreement is broader than a one-time purchase. According to company representatives, it establishes a framework for long-term cooperation, technology supply and possible joint ventures to manufacture drone systems inside Pakistan.
Neither Powerus nor the Pakistan Army has publicly identified the drone models covered by the initial order. Reports describing the agreement as a completed deal for a large combat-drone fleet therefore go beyond the information officially disclosed.
Powerus Delegation Meets Field Marshal Asim Munir
A Powerus delegation led by Velicovich met Pakistan’s army chief and Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir, in Rawalpindi. The Pakistan military said the discussions covered defence procurement, local production and long-term capacity-building.
The military’s public statement did not disclose the memorandum’s commercial terms or confirm that construction of a production unit had begun. At this stage, local manufacturing remains part of the proposed cooperation rather than an operational factory.
How Donald Trump’s Sons Are Connected to Powerus
Powerus is preparing to become a publicly traded company through a merger with Nasdaq-listed Aureus Greenway Holdings. Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump have an economic interest in the transaction through an investment vehicle linked to American Venture Partners.
The brothers’ financial involvement has led several reports to describe Powerus as “Trump-backed”. However, the company is not a subsidiary of the Trump Organization, and the memorandum with Pakistan was signed by Powerus—not personally by Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr. or Eric Trump.
The commercial relationship has nevertheless attracted scrutiny because President Trump’s administration is simultaneously seeking closer economic and security ties with Islamabad. Ethics campaigners and Democratic lawmakers in the United States have raised wider concerns about investments by members of the president’s family in defence businesses that may benefit from government policy or military contracts.
What Kind of Drone Technology Does Powerus Produce?
Powerus develops unmanned aerial and maritime systems for defence, security, humanitarian and commercial applications. Its portfolio includes relatively low-cost drone interceptors designed to detect and neutralise hostile unmanned aircraft.
The company has said it can produce around 3,000 interceptors a month, with individual systems priced at approximately $5,000. It is seeking to expand that production substantially as demand for low-cost counter-drone technology rises worldwide.
Powerus has licensed technology from Ukraine, where inexpensive drones and interceptors have become central to battlefield operations. The company has also pursued production and sales partnerships in the Middle East.
Powerus Previously Signed Manufacturing Agreement in India
Before reaching its understanding with the Pakistan Army, Powerus signed an agreement with India’s Paras Defence and Space Technologies in June 2026. That partnership concerned the manufacture and commercialisation of the Guardian-1 counter-drone system.
The company’s parallel engagement with India and Pakistan is commercially significant because the two countries remain strategic rivals. The agreements also demonstrate how private defence companies may sell or license related technologies to multiple governments, subject to export controls and the terms of individual contracts.
No evidence has been publicly presented that Powerus has transferred classified Indian technology or data to Pakistan. Any such suggestion would require independent proof.
Pakistan Seeks Alternatives to Chinese Defence Supplies
China supplies the majority of Pakistan’s imported military equipment. The proposed cooperation with Powerus would give Islamabad access to an additional source of drone and counter-drone technology while supporting its goal of manufacturing more defence systems domestically.
Pakistan has intensified its focus on unmanned warfare and air defence after recent regional conflicts demonstrated how relatively inexpensive drones can penetrate conventional security networks and impose disproportionate costs.
For Washington, private-sector defence sales could create a new commercial foundation for US-Pakistan relations. The relationship has historically been shaped by counterterrorism, Afghanistan and periodic mistrust, while the United States has simultaneously expanded its strategic partnership with India.
Production Unit, Technology Transfer and Price Remain Unclear
Several crucial details have not been made public, including the location of any proposed production facility, the Pakistani manufacturing partner, the level of technology transfer and the timetable for local assembly.
It is also unclear whether the initial order requires approval under US arms-export regulations. The company has not disclosed whether the systems are intended for surveillance, interception, attack missions or a combination of roles.
Until binding manufacturing contracts, regulatory approvals and construction details are announced, the project should be described as a proposed local-production partnership—not an already established drone factory.
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