US drone firm Powerus signs MoU with Pakistan Army, announces initial drone order

US drone firm Powerus has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Pakistan Army that includes an initial drone-related order, co-founder Brett Velicovich told Reuters on Wednesday. Velicovich declined to provide details, citing security sensitivities, but said the deal fell within the category of unmanned aerial systems. He also declined to disclose the value of the order, citing confidentiality. Powerus, which offers aerial and maritime drones for military and industrial use, is due to merge with a publicly traded company backed by two of US President Donald Trump’s sons, called Aureus Greenway Holdings. Both companies have said they expect the merger to complete in early October. Trump’s sons, Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump, own a stake in Aureus through an investment fund called American Ventures, according to US regulatory filings. American Ventures is expected to hold a 9.9 per cent beneficial ownership stake in the combined company after the merger, regulatory filings show. Inter-Services Public Relations on Wednesday said a Powerus delegation led by Velicovich met Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and they discussed defence procurement, production and long-term capacity building. The statement did not mention the MoU. The military’s media wing did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the agreement outside business hours. Andrew Fox, Powerus’ founder and chief executive, said that Pakistan’s private defence sector remains “emerging but still not mature”, leaving room for US firms to move faster. “The goal would be a joint technology relationship, pairing best-in-breed technology from the US with best-in-breed technology from Pakistan,” Velicovich said, adding that Powerus was exploring ways to potentially build technology in Pakistan. Fox dismissed suggestions that the company’s growth was linked 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. Donald Trump Jr was a passive investor with an indirect holding, his spokesperson said. “Don has no involvement whatsoever in the management or operations of Powerus and plays absolutely no role in the procurement of contracts in the United States or abroad,” the spokesperson said. “He had no prior knowledge of this deal and had no involvement of any kind in its negotiation, procurement or execution.” Eric Trump could not immediately be reached. White House Special Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said, “There are no conflicts of interest.”

Pakistan's military said a delegation from Powerus, led by Velicovich, met field marshal Asim Munir on Wednesday. The meeting covered defence procurement, production and long-term capacity building. The military's statement did not mention the memorandum or the initial order. Its media wing did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the agreement outside business hours.