--- title: "Powerus to import Ukrainian drone tech for Pentagon" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/business/powerus-to-import-ukrainian-drone-tech-for-pentagon" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/powerus-to-import-ukrainian-drone-tech-for-pentagon" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/powerus-to-import-ukrainian-drone-tech-for-pentagon.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/powerus-to-import-ukrainian-drone-tech-for-pentagon" category: "Business & Economy" area: "United States" published: "2026-10-01T04:05:28.770Z" source_reported: "2026-10-01T02:58:00.000Z" updated: "2026-10-01T04:05:28.770Z" trust_score: 86 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-01T05:15:32.712639+00:00" --- # Powerus to import Ukrainian drone tech for Pentagon *Startup merging with firm backed by Trump sons aims to supply US military with foreign technology.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 86 of 100, higher is better. Multiple named officials and regulatory filings corroborate the merger and stake details, raising trust to 86. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. The reports explain Pentagon demand, quote key figures, give specific data and outline future plans, earning 95. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Language is measured and factual without sensational headlines, resulting in a low hype score of 15. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - US drone startup Powerus plans to import Ukrainian technology to supply the Pentagon. - Powerus will merge with Aureus Greenway Holdings, giving Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump an indirect 9.9% stake. - Brett Velicovich, Powerus president, stated the company aims to be a 'one-stop solution' for the Pentagon. - Powerus reported $1.2 million in first-quarter sales and has a US Air Force contract worth up to $90 million. Powerus, a US-based drone startup, intends to import Ukrainian and other foreign technologies to satisfy the growing demand from the Pentagon. The company is preparing to merge with Aureus Greenway Holdings, a golf course operator. This merger will result in an indirect 9.9% stake for Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump through their investment fund, American Ventures. Brett Velicovich, president of Powerus and a former US Army Special Operations intelligence analyst, described the company's ambition to become a 'one-stop solution' for the Pentagon by providing foreign-developed military technology with an 'American face'. The company has reported $1.2 million in sales for the first quarter of the year after assembling aerial and maritime drones. Powerus also announced a contract with the US Air Force valued at up to $90 million. ## Disagreement on early revenue ZN.UA reported that Powerus had not generated revenue by early 2026. The Independent (US) stated that the company had no revenue-generating operations at the start of 2026. However, ZN.UA also reported that after assembling drones earlier in the year, Powerus announced $1.2 million in first-quarter sales. The Independent (US) also reported $1.2 million in first-quarter sales following drone assembly. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated or centre-rated reports mentioned the $22.3 million commercial agreement Powerus announced to safeguard Middle Eastern energy infrastructure for an undisclosed client, as reported by The Independent (US). ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 50% (3) - Centre: 50% (3) - Right: 0% (0) 0 of 6 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-01T05:15:32.712639+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 8 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-01T06:00:25.115Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports led on the connection between the drone startup Powerus and the sons of former President Donald Trump. The Independent (US) highlighted that Trump's older sons were tied to the drone firm importing Ukraine war tech for the Pentagon. It noted that the Trump brothers hold an indirect interest via American Ventures, which is expected to retain a 9.9% stake in the combined business. The Independent (US) also mentioned Powerus's MatrixFold quadcopter attack drone failed to reach the leaderboard in the Pentagon's Drone Dominance program. Unn.ua's digest stated the startup developer linked to Trump's sons aims to bring Ukrainian technology to the US and is negotiating with Ukrainian drone manufacturers. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports focused on Powerus's plan to import Ukrainian technology and its merger with a company backed by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump. ZN.UA reported that the drone startup associated with Trump's sons is trying to bring Ukrainian technology to the United States. It detailed the planned merger with Aureus Greenway Holdings and the indirect stake held by the Trump brothers. WTVB's digest also stated that the drone startup tied to Trump sons aims to bring Ukrainian tech to the US. Both ZN.UA and The Independent (US) reported on Powerus's $1.2 million in first-quarter sales and its US Air Force contract. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 4 - veryHigh: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [ZN.UA Зеркало недели](https://zn.ua/WORLD/dronnyj-startap-svjazannyj-s-synovjami-trampa-stremitsja-privezti-ukrainskie-tekhnolohii-v-ssha-reuters.html) — The Drone Startup Associated with Trump's Sons Is Trying to Bring Ukrainian Technology to the United States. - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/powerus-ukraine-drone-start-up-don-jr-eric-trump-b3059281.html) — Trump’s older sons tied to drone firm importing Ukraine war tech for Pentagon - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/world/americas/powerus-ukraine-drone-start-up-don-jr-eric-trump-b3059281.html) — Trump’s older sons tied to drone firm importing Ukraine war tech for Pentagon - [unn.ua](https://unn.ua/news/startap-rozrobnyk-droniv-poviazanyi-iz-synamy-trampa-maie-na-meti-pryvezty-ukrainski-tekhnolohii-do-ssha-zmi) — Startup Drone Developer Linked to Trump's Sons Aims to Bring Ukrainian Technology to US - [WTVB](https://wtvbam.com/2026/09/30/drone-startup-tied-to-trump-sons-aims-to-bring-ukrainian-tech-to-us) — Drone startup tied to Trump sons aims to bring Ukrainian tech to US - [Reuters](https://reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/drone-startup-tied-trump-sons-aims-bring-ukrainian-tech-us-2026-09-30) — Drone startup tied to Trump sons aims to bring Ukrainian ... ## Questions **What is Powerus?** Powerus is a US-based drone startup that plans to import Ukrainian and other foreign technologies to meet demand from the Pentagon. The company is set to merge with Aureus Greenway Holdings, which is backed by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, giving them an indirect stake. **What is Powerus's relationship with the Trump sons?** Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump have an indirect 9.9% stake in Powerus through their investment fund, American Ventures, which is investing in Aureus Greenway Holdings, the company Powerus is merging with. They are described as passive investors with no operational role in the drone firm. **What contracts does Powerus have?** Powerus has announced a contract with the US Air Force valued at up to $90 million. The Independent (US) also reported a $22.3 million commercial agreement to safeguard Middle Eastern energy infrastructure for an undisclosed client. **What sales has Powerus reported?** Powerus reported $1.2 million in first-quarter sales after assembling aerial and maritime drones earlier in the year. The company was incorporated in October of the previous year and had no revenue-generating operations at the start of 2026. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/business/powerus-to-import-ukrainian-drone-tech-for-pentagon. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Powerus to import Ukrainian drone tech for Pentagon", https://mediabias.news/business/powerus-to-import-ukrainian-drone-tech-for-pentagon