Pakistan signs a drone deal with Trump-backed Powerus, raising questions over India links, Israeli ties, local production and defence strategy.
Pakistan Signs Drone Deal With Trump-Backed Powerus
Pakistan has entered a new defence partnership with US-based drone company Powerus, a move that has attracted attention because the company is also developing drone technology for India and has links to Israel.
On September 16, a Powerus delegation met Pakistan’s military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, at military headquarters in Rawalpindi. The following day, Powerus announced that Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence had placed a “limited procurement order” for unmanned aerial systems.
The company also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Pakistan Army covering potential cooperation in defence technology, production and capacity building. The financial value of the procurement order and the specific drone systems involved have not been publicly disclosed.
Powerus said the MoU does not represent a final purchase agreement or create a mandatory procurement commitment. Any future arrangements would also be subject to US laws and government approvals.
Why the Powerus Deal Is Significant
The agreement is notable because Powerus is a relatively young company. Founded in 2025 and based in Florida, the company is preparing to merge with a Nasdaq-listed firm that owns golf properties in the United States.
Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump are investors in Powerus through American Ventures. Regulatory filings indicate that the investment vehicle is expected to hold a 9.9 percent beneficial stake in the combined company.
Representatives for Donald Trump Jr have said he is a passive investor and has no operational role in Powerus or its defence contracts. The company has similarly stated that the Trump brothers have no role in managing its business or international defence relationships.
The company has nevertheless gained attention because of its growing role in military drone technology. Powerus reportedly produces thousands of interceptor drones each month and recently secured a US Air Force contract with a potential ceiling of $90 million.
Powerus Already Has an India Connection
One of the biggest questions surrounding Pakistan’s new drone deal is Powerus’s existing relationship with India.
In June, Indian defence manufacturer Paras Defence and Space Technologies announced that Powerus had granted it an exclusive licence to manufacture and sell Guardian-1 interceptor technology in India.
This means Powerus is developing relationships with both Pakistan and India, two countries with a long history of military rivalry.
Defence analysts say buying equipment from the same supplier is not unprecedented. However, having a common supplier can create challenges involving operational security, technology management and competing requirements.
The key issue will be whether Powerus can provide both countries with systems without compromising sensitive information or either side’s security interests.
Israeli Military Connection Raises Questions
Powerus also has personnel with Israeli defence backgrounds.
The company identifies cofounder Ziv Marom as a former Israeli military veteran. Another senior executive, Justin Gans, previously served as a vice president at Elbit Systems of America, the US arm of Israeli defence company Elbit Systems.
Pakistan does not recognise Israel, making the background of Powerus personnel a potentially sensitive issue in defence procurement.
However, analysts note that Pakistan has previously acquired US and European military equipment containing components or technologies associated with Israel. The significance of such connections can therefore depend on the nature of the transaction and the level of direct involvement.
What Does Pakistan Need From Powerus?
Pakistan already operates a growing range of unmanned and counter-drone systems.
Its armed forces use Turkish Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci drones, Chinese Wing Loong II systems and the domestically developed Shahpar-II. Pakistan is also developing its own counter-unmanned aircraft systems through state-owned and private-sector organisations.
The Guardian interceptor drones offered by Powerus are designed to destroy incoming drones. Such low-cost interceptors have become increasingly important as military forces seek cheaper alternatives to expensive surface-to-air missiles.
Some Pakistani defence analysts believe the real attraction could therefore be less about obtaining another drone design and more about gaining access to electronics, integration and systems-level expertise.
China and Turkiye Remain Central
Pakistan’s defence industry continues to rely heavily on China and Turkiye for advanced military technology.
China has supplied the majority of Pakistan’s arms imports in recent years, while Turkiye has become an important partner in aerospace, drones and defence production.
The Powerus agreement does not necessarily replace those partnerships. Instead, Pakistan could be seeking additional technology, investment and manufacturing opportunities from the United States.
For Pakistan’s growing drone industry, local production could be particularly valuable. A partnership with a US company could potentially help domestic manufacturers access investment, technology and international markets.
What Happens Next?
The immediate question is whether the Powerus agreement develops beyond an initial procurement order and MoU.
Analysts say future contracts, local manufacturing arrangements and technology-transfer agreements will provide a clearer indication of Pakistan’s long-term intentions.
For now, the Powerus deal represents a new element in Pakistan’s evolving drone and counter-drone strategy, while also highlighting the increasingly complicated defence relationships connecting Pakistan, India, the United States, China and Turkiye.
