Powerus, a U.S.-based drone manufacturer backed by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, is in talks to sell its defense technology to Pakistan as part of an effort to reduce Islamabad’s reliance on China for military equipment. The company recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Pakistan’s military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to the drone maker’s co-founders.
The agreement aims to establish joint ventures to localize drone manufacturing within Pakistan and includes provisions for the sale of both drone and interceptor systems to the country’s military. While the company declined to disclose financial details, it confirmed that there is an initial order for drone-related technology. Requests for comment from Pakistan’s military went unanswered.
Brett Velicovich, Powerus’s president and co-founder, highlighted a shift in U.S. policy toward sharing drone technology with Pakistan, which historically had limited access due to U.S. government restrictions. “For many decades, the U.S. government has been opposed to providing [drone] systems to countries like Pakistan while China has provided whatever the people here want,” he said. Velicovich noted that this change marks “an awakening of U.S. policy” aimed at expanding exports of drone platforms.
China remains Pakistan’s dominant defense supplier, accounting for approximately 80 percent of the country’s military imports by volume, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Pakistan ranks as the world’s fifth-largest importer of major arms.
Field Marshal Munir, who wields significant influence as Pakistan’s de facto military leader, has sought to strengthen ties with the United States following his involvement in mediating talks between Washington and Tehran. His tenure has seen a range of engagement with American business interests, including deals involving cryptocurrencies and critical minerals, aimed at diversifying Pakistan’s economic and diplomatic partnerships.
Andrew Fox, chair and CEO of Powerus, emphasized the potential economic benefits of the collaboration, saying the partnership could foster local industry, job creation, and export opportunities in Pakistan.
Powerus, originally established last year as Autonomous Power Corp, is preparing to go public through a merger with Nasdaq-listed Aureus Greenway Holdings, a deal arranged by Dominari Securities, an investment firm partially owned by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump. The Trump brothers are also making a direct investment in the merged entity via a special-purpose vehicle named American Venture Partners.
The company has licensed drone technology from Ukraine, where unmanned aerial vehicles have been widely employed amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. Powerus has also acquired drone producers specializing in cost-effective systems capable of carrying heavy payloads for military, humanitarian, and agricultural uses.