"The goal (of the MoU) would be a joint technology relationship, pairing best-in-breed technology from the US with best-in-breed technology from Pakistan," Brett Velicovich said in comments to Reuters.
Powerus announces a "limited procurement order" and a tentative MoU with Pakistan's MoD
On 17 September 2026, Powerus — the trading name of Autonomous Power Corporation, a US-based drone technology company — announced it had received a "limited procurement order" from Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) and signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) intended to deepen collaboration. Powerus said the order covers unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and associated support. The company did not disclose the monetary value of the order, citing confidentiality, and characterized the MoU as establishing a framework for potential expanded collaboration in unmanned and autonomous defense technologies.
Delegation met Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at GHQ Rawalpindi
The agreement follows a 16 September 2026 meeting between a Powerus delegation, led by Co‑Founder Brett Velicovich, and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, held at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. Pakistan’s Inter‑Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the two sides discussed defence procurement, production and long‑term capacity building. The ISPR statement did not mention the MoU announced by Powerus the next day.
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See what we buildProduct lineup: Guardian, Dragon, xFoldSpy and Blue Sky
Powerus designs, develops and manufactures a range of unmanned and autonomous systems. The portfolio named in the company release includes the Guardian interceptor, Dragon heavy‑lift transport/logistics drone, xFoldSpy surveillance drone, and the Blue Sky unmanned surface vessel (USV). The company framed the Pakistan order as an expansion of its international defence business.
MoU is deliberately tentative and constrained by US export controls
Powerus stressed that the MoU is provisional in scope: neither side is obligated to procure or sell systems under the agreement, and any final sales or transfers remain subject to US export controls. That caveat was prominent in the company’s statement and underscores that regulatory approvals beyond the bilateral engagement will be required before technology or systems change hands.
What this means for Pakistani defence startups, Powerus, and the Ministry of Defence
- Pakistani defence startups and state-owned enterprises: The report notes multiple Pakistani SOEs and private companies already provide interceptor drones, USVs and first‑person‑view (FPV) munitions. If Powerus proceeds to invest locally, Pakistani firms could gain access to foreign capital, but they also risk becoming downstream assemblers unless investment reaches upstream capabilities such as component manufacturing.
- Powerus: Company leadership has signaled a longer‑term strategy beyond an initial order. Velicovich spoke of potential joint technology relationships and the possibility of building technology in Pakistan; CEO Andrew Fox suggested the local private sector is "emerging, but still not mature," implying a role for Powerus as both supplier and investor.
- Ministry of Defence and national security leadership: The MoD’s engagement with a foreign private company, alongside earlier policy moves such as the Defence Industrial Production and Regulatory Authority (DIPRA), indicates an openness to private and foreign participation to rapidly expand capacity — a strategy that will require careful management of procurement, production and foreign capital flows.
Wider commercial and policy context: merger, foreign capital, and a second foreign entrant
Powerus is separately pursuing a merger with Aureus Greenway Holdings, a Nasdaq‑listed company in which Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump hold a stake through an investment fund. Both parties expect the transaction to close in early October 2026. Andrew Fox has rejected suggestions that the Trump family’s involvement drove the company’s growth, saying contracts were awarded on merit.
Analysts writing in the same outlet note risks and opportunities tied to foreign direct investment. They point to the example of Independent Power Producers as a cautionary tale of foreign capital driving hard‑currency outflows unless an export‑ready industry is built. The piece also highlighted that Ukraine’s Fire Point is another foreign drone company recently engaging Pakistani partners, suggesting Pakistan’s demand is attracting multiple external suppliers.
Taken together, the facts in the public record show a two‑track development: an immediate, confidential procurement order and a deliberately nonbinding MoU that leaves space for investment, local production and future exports — but only if regulatory and commercial hurdles, including US export controls and the risks of foreign capital repatriation, are managed. The near‑term items to watch are whether Powerus follows through on planned local investment, how the Aureus Greenway merger completes in early October 2026, and whether subsequent agreements move from framework to firm contracts under applicable export controls.
