Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. have backed Powerus, a drone startup planning to go public on Nasdaq and acquire Ukrainian drone manufacturers. The company is currently negotiating to purchase Ukrainian firms or license their aerial technologies for production within the United States. This initiative aims to strengthen the American defense industrial base and replace Chinese-made drones in the domestic market.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Powerus intends to go public through a reverse merger with Aureus Greenway Holdings. While the holding company previously focused on Florida golf courses, it is now pivoting toward high-growth defense technology. CEO Andrew Fox emphasized that the drone market offers significantly higher growth potential than traditional real estate assets. Consequently, the public listing will provide the necessary capital for rapid manufacturing expansion and strategic acquisitions.
Expansion Strategy
Powerus is aggressively building its technical capabilities. The startup has already acquired three smaller companies over the past six months to streamline its supply chain. Management aims to produce more than 10,000 drones per month to meet rising demand. Co-founder Brett Velicovich highlighted that Ukrainian battlefield innovations are essential for modern defense. Therefore, integrating these technologies under an American brand will provide a competitive edge in federal procurement.
The Trump family’s investment arm, American Ventures, plays a key role in the transaction. Furthermore, Donald Trump Jr. serves as a shareholder and advisor for Unusual Machines, a component supplier for the project. The Korea Corporate Governance Improvement Fund also contributed $50 million to support the venture. These investments position Powerus to compete for Pentagon contracts under the $1.1 billion Drone Dominance program, which focuses on mass-producing American-made systems by 2027.
Previously, The Ukrainian Review reported that Ukraine will deploy military specialists to the Gulf region to share expertise in countering drone attacks.
