US Drone Firm Powerus Signs Pakistan Army MoU, Secures Initial Order
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: US drone company Powerus has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Pakistan Army that includes an initial order related to unmanned aerial systems, the company’s co-founder Brett Velicovich told Reuters.
Velicovich said the company had received an initial order for Powerus systems as part of the agreement. He declined to disclose the specific technology involved because of security sensitivities but confirmed that it fell within the category of unmanned aerial systems. The financial value of the order was also withheld on confidentiality grounds.
The development followed a meeting at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Wednesday between a Powerus delegation and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. According to the military, discussions covered defence procurement, production, evolving defence technology and long-term capacity building.
However, an important distinction remains: the Pakistan military’s public statement about the meeting did not mention the MoU or the initial order. Those details were disclosed to Reuters by Powerus co-founder Velicovich.
Powerus develops autonomous systems for defence and critical infrastructure, with operations spanning aerial and maritime platforms. Its official material describes capabilities including tactical unmanned aircraft, heavy-lift vertical take-off and landing platforms and autonomous maritime systems.
The two sides are also exploring deeper technological cooperation. Velicovich told Reuters that the aim could be to combine US and Pakistani technology, adding that Powerus was considering opportunities to potentially build technology in Pakistan.
The agreement comes amid closer engagement between Islamabad and Washington across economic, financial and defence sectors after a period of strained bilateral relations.
Powerus is also expected to merge with US-listed Aureus Greenway Holdings in early October. According to US regulatory filings cited by Reuters, an investment fund called American Ventures, through which Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump hold a stake in Aureus, is expected to own a 9.9% beneficial stake in the combined company after the merger.
Powerus founder and CEO Andrew Fox rejected suggestions that the company’s growth was connected to the Trump family’s investment. A spokesperson for Donald Trump Jr. told Reuters that he was a passive indirect investor who had no involvement in Powerus management, operations or the negotiation and procurement of the Pakistan agreement. The White House also said there were no conflicts of interest.
The agreement could mark a new phase in Pakistan-US defence technology cooperation, although the precise systems ordered, quantities, delivery schedule and financial value have not been publicly disclosed.
