US drone manufacturer Powerus has received a limited procurement order from Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence and signed a strategic memorandum of understanding that could pave the way for expanded cooperation in unmanned and autonomous defense technologies.
The company’s GlobeNewswire release on Thursday said Powerus had received a limited procurement order from Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence for unmanned aerial systems and associated support.
Autonomous Power Corporation, doing business as Powerus, said the order represented an expansion of its international defense business. The company did not disclose the value of the order or details about the type of unmanned aerial systems involved.
Powerus also announced that it had signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with senior defense officials in Pakistan.
According to the company, the memorandum establishes a framework for potential expansion of cooperation in unmanned and autonomous defense technologies and provides a basis for the parties to explore additional areas of cooperation and the potential future deployment of Powerus systems.
Powerus said the memorandum is not a definitive agreement, creates no purchase obligation, and does not obligate either party to proceed. Any program or procurement contemplated under the framework would be subject to definitive agreements, all applicable US laws and regulations, and government approvals.
On September 16, a Powerus delegation led by Co-Founder Brett Velicovich was received by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.
In a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces, the meeting was described as covering matters of mutual interest, evolving trends in defense technology, and avenues for cooperation in defense procurement, production and capacity building.
The agreement was confirmed by Velicovich in Islamabad on September 16 and formally announced in Powerus’s GlobeNewswire release the following day.
However, neither the company’s statement nor the Pakistan Army’s media wing disclosed details about the type of unmanned aerial systems involved or the value of the order.
British news agency Reuters, quoting Velicovich, reported that the goal was to establish a joint technology relationship pairing US technology with Pakistan’s capabilities. He said Powerus was exploring ways to potentially build or manufacture its technology locally in Pakistan.
“This is an important milestone for Powerus as we expand our international defense footprint,” Velicovich, Co-Founder of Powerus, said. “We are proud to support Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence, and the memorandum gives both sides a strategic framework to build upon.”
Reuters, citing Andrew Fox, founder and CEO of Powerus, also reported that Pakistan’s private defense sector is “emerging but not yet mature,” allowing US companies to advance more quickly.
Fox rejected speculation that the company’s growth was linked to the involvement of President Trump’s sons.
He said contracts are awarded on merit and that the president’s sons “have no role in business matters.”
