US drone company backed by Trump’s sons signs deal with Pakistan Army, meets Gen Munir in Rawalpindi
Last month, the same company announced a $22.3 million deal with an undisclosed customer in West Asia for equipment to protect oil and gas infrastructure from drone attacks. Several companies in West Asia have suffered significant damage to their facilities after Trump’s war on Iran.
Also read: India set for $2-billion drone order in biggest buy, industry body says
While the details of the deal have not been announced, a memorandum of agreement has been signed between Delaware manufacturer Powerus and the Pakistani Army, which includes sale of unmanned systems and potentially joint manufacturing in Pakistan as well, news agency Reuters has reported.
Trump has publicly expressed his fondness for Munir and his family-backed companies are already working with the Pakistani government on crypto currency. This January, the Pakistani government had signed a deal with SC Financial Technologies, an affiliate of Trump family-backed World Liberty Financial, to use crypto for cross-border payments. The high-profile deal too was signed in the presence of Munir.
ET BureauKnowing powerus corporation
The drone deal with Powerus does not specify the technologies likely to be shared or the exact equipment sold, but the US company specialises in manufacturing heavy lift unmanned aerial systems. Such drones can be used for a variety of missions, from logistics support for troops to a lethal weapons payload.
Pakistan has in recent years heavily leaned on China and Turkey for its armed forces requirements. For drones, in particular, Turkey has been a major contributor and several unmanned systems supplied were used by Pakistan against India last year during Operation Sindoor. Pakistan also uses armed drones from Turkey and China.Also read: Powerus and Pakistan: The optics problem with a Trump-linked deal
Powerus is a relatively unknown drone company that is trying to ride on the new tech wave and made its entry with small contracts with the US Air Force and Department of Defence in the last few months. The company is currently being merged with an entity that operates two golf courses in Florida.
Company records show that Donald Trump Junior and Eric Trump are ‘notable investors’ in the company through their American Venture Partners vehicle. In a statement to Reuters, the company’s representatives claimed that the Trump family has no operational control or involvement.
