US drone maker Powerus signs Pakistan Army MOU, receives initial order

US drone company Powerus has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Pakistan Army that includes an initial order for drones, its co-founder Brett Velicovich told foreign media.

The company declined to disclose details of the order, including its value, citing security sensitivities and confidentiality. Velicovich said the agreement covered unmanned aerial systems.

Powerus, which supplies aerial and maritime drones for military and industrial use, is expected to merge with publicly traded Aureus Greenway Holdings in early October. The company is backed by an investment fund through which Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump hold a stake in Aureus, according to US regulatory filings.

The Pakistan military said a Powerus delegation led by Velicovich met army chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on September 16. The meeting covered defence procurement, production and long-term capacity building, although the military statement did not mention the memorandum of understanding.

The agreement comes as relations between Washington and Islamabad have warmed after years of strained ties. US President Donald Trump has publicly praised Munir, while Pakistan has pursued economic, financial and defence initiatives aimed at strengthening ties with the United States.

Powerus chief executive Andrew Fox said Pakistan's private defence sector was "emerging but still not mature", creating opportunities for US companies to move faster.

"The goal would be a joint technology relationship, pairing best-in-breed technology from the U.S. with best-in-breed technology from Pakistan," Velicovich said, adding that Powerus was exploring the possibility of building technology in Pakistan.

Fox rejected suggestions that the company's growth was linked to the involvement of the Trump family, saying contracts were awarded on merit and that the Trump sons had no involvement in the company's business operations.

A spokesman for Donald Trump Jr said he was a passive investor with an indirect holding and had no involvement in Powerus's management or operations or in the procurement of contracts.

"He had no prior knowledge of this deal and had no involvement of any kind in its negotiation, procurement or execution," the spokesman said.

A White House spokesperson said there were no conflicts of interest.

By Aghakazim Guliyev