**Drone Firm Linked to Trump Sons Eyes Ukrainian Technology for U.S. Manufacturing**
A U.S. drone company, Powerus, which has ties to the sons of former President Donald Trump, is in discussions to bring Ukrainian military technology to the United States. This initiative comes as Ukraine seeks to boost its arms exports despite ongoing issues related to corruption within its military procurement programs.
Powerus is negotiating partnerships with various Ukrainian defense firms with the goal of manufacturing their technologies domestically. Among the technologies under consideration are long-range attack drones. The company's Guardian interceptors, which were introduced earlier this year, were developed in collaboration with Ukrainian partners, according to Brett Velicovich, the president of Powerus.
Recently, Powerus completed a merger with Aureus Greenway Holdings, a golf course operator. Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump have an indirect investment in Aureus through a company called American Ventures, which is projected to own 9.9% of the newly formed entity.
Velicovich, a former U.S. Army Special Operations intelligence analyst, expressed his vision for Powerus, stating that he aims to create a “one-stop solution” for the Pentagon by offering foreign technology that is adapted for American use. Although the Trump brothers are described as passive investors without operational roles in the company, Powerus adviser Keith Kellogg, who previously served as Donald Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, noted the potential benefits of having the Trump name associated with the business.
Powerus has secured a contract with the U.S. Air Force that has a ceiling value of $90 million, although actual purchases under this contract are not guaranteed. Additionally, the company has received an order from Pakistan for drones and related support services.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is actively pursuing billions in revenue from arms exports while continuing to depend heavily on military and financial support from Western nations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced plans for overseas export hubs and has previously mentioned a proposed drone agreement with the U.S. valued between $10 billion and $30 billion.
However, Ukraine's ambitions in the arms export sector are overshadowed by multiple corruption scandals that have plagued its military procurement system. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) recently announced new charges involving border guard officials and a private supplier. Investigators allege that a manufacturer secured a drone tender by offering a lower price, only for a competing firm, in collusion with officials, to demand $1 million to facilitate the contract and delivery of equipment.
In a separate investigation, NABU reported in August that suspected losses from drone purchases amounted to approximately $5.7 million. Allegations include inflated prices ranging from 60% to 90%, staged competitive bids, and illicit funds being funneled to company accounts, including those located abroad.
Concerns have also been raised by European officials regarding the potential diversion of weapons supplied to Ukraine, with fears that they may end up in the hands of criminal networks.
As Powerus moves forward with its plans to integrate Ukrainian technology into the U.S. defense sector, the situation in Ukraine remains complex, with the interplay of military needs, corruption issues, and international relations continuing to evolve.