Trump's sons-linked US drone firm signs India deal to manufacture anti-drone systems months before Pakistan deal

New Delhi: Months before it inked a deal to sell armed drones to Pakistan, an American autonomous systems company, with close links to the sons of President Donald Trump, signed an agreement to manufacture and commercialise anti-drone systems with an Indian company.

Newly minted US drone company Powerus, which announced contracts with the Pakistani military after its representatives met Pakistani Army chief Asim Munir last week and sold protection systems to oil and infrastructure entities in the Middle East impacted by the war on Iran, signed a licensing agreement to make its 'Guardian' interceptor products in India.

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According to market disclosures, Paras Defence and Space Technologies entered into an agreement with Powerus Defense in June for an exclusive licence to manufacture and sell its anti-drone systems in India in exchange for a licence fee and share of net profits from sales in India.

"Through the agreement, Powerus grants Paras an exclusive licence to use the licensed IP within India for the purpose of manufacturing and commercialising products in India," the market disclosure said, identifying the product as the 'Guardian 1 Interceptor'. When contacted, Paras Defence said that their representatives are not available for comments.

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Guardian 1 is described as a high-speed, battery-powered counter-drone system developed by Powerus designed to combat low-cost aerial threats. According to the company, the counter-drone interceptor is designed to take down one-way attack drones like Shahed 136 and Geran 2.

While the licensing deal has been signed, the US-origin equipment has not yet secured an order from Indian armed forces, according to available information. There is a significant demand for anti-drone systems in India, with several companies offering solutions either alone or in partnership with overseas technology suppliers.

In Pakistan, however, a firm order has been placed on Powerus, with the US company making an announcement on Thursday after its representatives met Munir. The company said a limited procurement order has been received from the Pakistani defence ministry for unmanned aerial systems. "We are proud to support Pakistan's Ministry of Defence, and the memorandum gives both sides a strategic framework to build upon," Brett Velicovich, co-founder of Powerus is quoted as saying after a meeting with Munir at Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

While it did not name the specific system being sold, a press release featured the photograph of a Guardian 2, which is a more advanced version from its Guardian series of drone interceptors. The US company also said that the order represents an expansion of its overseas business.

A separate MoU has been signed with Pak for cooperation in unmanned and autonomous systems.

Trump Family Connection

Powerus, a relatively unknown drone company, is trying to ride on the new tech wave and made its entry with small contracts with the US Air Force and Department of Defence in the last few months. The company is being merged with an entity that operates two golf courses in Florida.

Company records show that Donald Trump Junior and Eric Trump are 'notable investors' in the company through their American Venture Partners vehicle. In a statement to Reuters, the company's representatives claimed that the Trump family has no operational control or involvement.