Powerus drone startup seeks Ukrainian tech for US market

Powerus, a US-based drone startup, aims to integrate Ukrainian military technology into American manufacturing to meet increasing Pentagon demand for autonomous systems. The company recently completed a merger with Nasdaq-listed Aureus Greenway Holdings.

Regulatory filings indicate that Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump hold an indirect stake in the combined entity through their investment fund, American Ventures, which is projected to have a 9.9% beneficial ownership stake. While company executives and representatives for the Trump brothers state they are passive investors with no operational roles, Powerus advisory board member and former Trump envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg noted, “it never hurts to have their name on something.”

Powerus president Brett Velicovich, a former US Army Special Operations intelligence analyst, stated the goal is to provide a “one-stop solution” for the Pentagon by offering foreign technology with an “American face.” The company has secured a US Air Force contract with a $90 million ceiling and has also received an initial order from Pakistan. Powerus is currently in negotiations with Ukrainian defense firms to facilitate the transfer and domestic production of technologies, including potential long-range attack drones.