US Drone Firm Linked to Trump Sons Seeks to Bring Ukrainian Tech to America

Executives at US drone startup "Powerus," which is preparing for a public listing via a merger with a company invested in by President Donald Trump's sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, said the firm seeks to bring Ukrainian technology and other foreign tech into the United States.

The officials added that the move aims to help meet growing demand from the US Department of War (the Pentagon) for drone technologies.

Powerus, founded about a year ago, is scheduled to merge in early October with "Aureus Greenway Holdings," listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

Growing investments
Aureus Greenway Holdings owns and operates golf courses, while Trump's sons hold an indirect stake through the investment fund "American Ventures."

Regulatory disclosures indicate that the fund is expected to hold a beneficial interest of 9.9% in the merged entity, according to Reuters.

Based in Florida, Powerus is part of a growing portfolio of investments in drone and military technology companies backed by the brothers.

The portfolio includes "Extend AI Robotics," which went public in early September after the Israeli drone manufacturer merged with a publicly traded construction company in which American Ventures also holds a stake.

Powerus executives and spokespeople for Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump stated that the brothers are passive investors in Aureus and do not play any operational role in the drone company.

But Keith Kellogg, a member of Powerus's advisory board, former special envoy to Ukraine under President Trump, and retired US Army Lieutenant General, said: "It never hurts to have their names attached to something."

Firms and investors are looking to capitalize on increasing demand from the Pentagon and foreign markets for drones, as the war in Ukraine has highlighted the growing role of autonomous systems on battlefields.

American Character
Powerus executives told Reuters in interviews over the past few months that the company intends to expand through acquisitions, foreign partnerships, and local manufacturing.

The company aims to become a US partner capable of bringing military technologies developed abroad, particularly in Ukraine, and manufacturing them within the United States.

Powerus CEO Brett Felkovich, a former intelligence analyst in US Army Special Operations, said he wants the company to become a "single-source solution" for the Pentagon and to offer foreign technology with an "American character."

Felkovich added that Powerus is in talks with Ukrainian defense technology firms and is seeking to add new capabilities to its products, including long-range attack drones.

Trump praised Felkovich after the latter discussed drones on Fox News last summer, writing on Truth Social that he "understands this stuff very well."

Early Stage
Despite a series of deals recently announced by the company, Powerus remains in the early stages of its operations, having been founded last October and having no revenue-generating activities at the start of 2026.

After expanding its air and maritime drone portfolio through acquisitions earlier this year, it reported $1.2 million in sales in the first quarter.

In March, the company unveiled its interceptor drone, the "Guardian," which Felkovich said was the result of "joint development" with Ukrainians.

Conversely, its quadcopter attack drone, the "Matrix Fold," failed to make the leaderboard in the second and final round of the Pentagon's "Drone Dominance" program.

The initiative is worth $1 billion and aims to rapidly deploy large numbers of low-cost attack drones.

Felkovich said that electronic warfare requirements in the competition posed a particularly difficult challenge for the company.

Multi-Million Dollar Contracts

Powerus recently announced a contract with the US Air Force valued up to $90 million, alongside a commercial deal worth $22.3 million to protect energy infrastructure in the Middle East for an undisclosed client.

The company said it is also in talks with Gulf states.

During a visit to Pakistan in mid-September, Powerus received a limited order from the Ministry of Defense for drones and support services, and signed a preliminary agreement with the Pakistani army regarding potential cooperation.

The company told Reuters it had also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Pakistani Air Force, without disclosing details, while the Pakistani army did not respond to a request for comment.

Felkovich told Reuters in Islamabad that the company aims to combine American and Pakistani technology and is in discussions with local manufacturers.

He added: "We are exploring ways that might allow us to even manufacture that technology here."