ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Army has signed a memorandum of understanding with US drone manufacturer Powerus that includes an initial order for unmanned aerial systems, the company’s co-founder Brett Velicovich told Reuters.
Velicovich declined to disclose details of the order, citing security sensitivities, and also withheld its value on confidentiality grounds. He said the agreement fell within the broader category of unmanned aerial systems.
The development was confirmed amid a visit by a Powerus delegation led by Velicovich to Pakistan. According to Inter-Services Public Relations, the delegation called on Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on Wednesday, with discussions covering defence procurement, production and long-term capacity building.
The military’s media wing did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment on the agreement outside business hours.
Powerus develops aerial and maritime drones for military and industrial applications. The company is expected to merge with publicly traded Aureus Greenway Holdings, a company backed by an investment fund linked to US President Donald Trump’s sons, Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump.
The two companies have said they expect the merger to be completed in early October.
According to US regulatory filings, Trump’s sons hold a stake in Aureus through American Ventures, which is expected to have a 9.9% beneficial ownership stake in the combined company after the merger.
Powerus founder and Chief Executive Andrew Fox said Pakistan’s private defence sector remained an emerging market with room for US companies to expand their presence.
“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 the possibility of manufacturing or developing technology in Pakistan.
The agreement comes as relations between Washington and Islamabad have seen renewed engagement following years of strained ties. US President Donald Trump has publicly praised Field Marshal Munir, while Pakistan has pursued economic, financial and defence initiatives aimed at strengthening bilateral relations.
Fox rejected suggestions that the company’s growth or access to contracts was linked to the involvement of Trump’s sons, saying contracts were awarded on merit and that they had no role 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 management or operations.
The spokesman also said Trump Jr had no prior knowledge of the Pakistan deal and played no role in its negotiation, procurement or execution.
Eric Trump could not immediately be reached for comment.
White House Special Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said there were no conflicts of interest.
The Pakistan Army-Powerus agreement marks a new development in bilateral defence-industry engagement, with the company indicating that future cooperation could extend beyond procurement to technology partnerships and potential production in Pakistan.
