Pakistan Army signs Powerus MoU for drones with US firm linked to Trump sons
US drone maker Powerus has signed a deal with the Pakistan Army and landed its first order, just weeks before it merges with a company backed by Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump.
4 min readSep 18, 2026 09:28 AM IST First published on: Sep 18, 2026 at 09:28 AM IST
The Pakistani government has repeatedly praised the US president’s constructive diplomacy. (Wikimedia Commons/ File Photo)
US drone company Powerus has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Pakistan Army, and has already secured its first order under the arrangement, the firm’s co-founder Brett Velicovich has confirmed. Speaking to Reuters, Velicovich said the deal falls under the category of unmanned aerial systems, though he declined to give further details or reveal the value of the order, citing security sensitivities and confidentiality. Neither the signing of the MoU nor the initial order had been reported before now.
The deal is significant for two reasons: it marks a fresh step in warming defence ties between Washington and Islamabad, and it lands just weeks before Powerus merges with a US-listed firm backed by two of President Trump’s sons.
What did Powerus agree with Pakistan?
Brett Velicovich, co-founder of Powerus, told Reuters on Wednesday that the company had signed a MoU with the Pakistan Army. He said the deal covers unmanned aerial systems, but did not share further details or the value of the order, citing security and confidentiality reasons. The agreement and the order have not been made public before now.
Powerus builds drones for both air and sea use, meant for military and industrial work.
How is the deal linked to Trump’s family?
Powerus is planning to merge with Aureus Greenway Holdings, a company listed on the stock market and backed by two of President Donald Trump’s sons, Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump. Both firms expect the merger to be completed in early October.
Story continues below this ad
US regulatory records show the brothers hold a stake in Aureus through a fund called American Ventures. Once the merger is done, that fund is expected to own close to a tenth of the new combined company.
What did the company say about a conflict of interest?
Andrew Fox, the founder and chief executive of Powerus, rejected any suggestion that the firm’s growth was connected to the Trump family’s involvement. He said contracts were won on merit, and that the Trump sons play no part in running the business.
A spokesperson for Donald Trump Jr said he is only a passive investor with an indirect stake, adding that he had no role in managing the company or in winning contracts anywhere in the world, and no knowledge of this deal before it was made. Eric Trump could not be reached for comment.
The White House also weighed in, with Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly saying there is no conflict of interest.
Story continues below this ad
What did Pakistan’s military say?
Pakistan’s army said a Powerus team, led by Velicovich, met army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir this week. The two sides discussed buying defence equipment, building it locally, and long-term plans to grow Pakistan’s own defence industry. The army’s statement did not mention the MoU directly.
The agreement comes at a time when ties between Washington and Islamabad are warming after a rocky few years. Trump has spoken positively about General Munir, while Pakistan has been working on several fronts, economic and defence, to build a closer relationship with the US.
Fox said Pakistan’s private defence industry is still young and not fully developed, which he believes gives American firms a chance to move in quickly. Velicovich added that the aim is a two-way technology partnership, combining US and Pakistani strengths, and that Powerus is also looking at building some of its technology inside Pakistan.
The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read More
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.