US drone maker Powerus signs MOU with Pakistan Army, secures initial order

US drone manufacturer Powerus has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Pakistan Army that includes an initial order, co-founder Brett Velicovich said in Islamabad on Wednesday.

"Today we signed a very important MOU. As part of that MOU, we received an initial order for power systems," Velicovich said. He declined to specify the technology involved, citing security sensitivities, but said it fell within the category of unmanned aerial systems. He also declined to disclose the order's value, citing confidentiality.

The signing and the initial order had not been reported previously.

Pakistan's military said a Powerus delegation led by Velicovich met Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, with discussions covering defence procurement, production and long-term capacity building. The military's statement did not mention the MoU, and its media wing did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside business hours.

Powerus, which offers aerial and maritime drones for military and industrial use, is due to merge with Aureus Greenway Holdings, a publicly traded company backed by two of US President Donald Trump's sons. Both firms expect the merger to close in early October. Regulatory filings show Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump hold a stake in Aureus through an investment fund, American Ventures, which is expected to hold a 9.9% beneficial ownership stake in the combined company.

Powerus co-founder and chief executive Andrew Fox dismissed suggestions that the company's growth was tied to the involvement of the Trump sons, saying contracts were awarded on merit and that they had "no involvement on the business side" of the company. A spokesman for Donald Trump Jr said he is a passive investor with an indirect holding and had no prior knowledge of the deal, no role in its negotiation, procurement or execution, and no involvement in Powerus management or operations. A spokesperson for Eric Trump could not immediately be reached.

Fox described Pakistan's private defence sector as "emerging but still not mature," leaving room for US firms to move faster. Velicovich said the goal would be a joint technology relationship pairing American and Pakistani expertise, adding that Powerus was exploring ways to potentially build technology in Pakistan.

The agreement comes amid warming ties between Washington and Islamabad under President Trump after years of strained relations. Trump has publicly praised Pakistan's army chief, while Islamabad has pursued a series of economic, financial and defence initiatives aimed at strengthening relations with the United States.