Trump Brothers Back Merger to Build Combat-Tested Ukrainian Drones in the US

Aureus Greenway Holdings, a golf club company backed by the sons of US President Donald Trump, announced plans to merge with drone technology firm Powerus in a deal intended to take the unmanned systems company public, Reuters reported on March 9, citing a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

With this deal, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. are tapping into a booming defense tech market driven by a massive global appetite for military drones. To capitalize on this demand, Powerus is looking directly to the battlefields of Ukraine.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Powerus co-founder and US special operations veteran Brett Velicovich revealed that the company is in talks to acquire Ukrainian drone manufacturers or license their designs. By manufacturing these combat-tested systems under an American brand on US soil, Powerus aims to scale production and supply the US military rapidly.

The planned merger follows another major deal last month involving the Trump brothers, when Israeli drone manufacturer XTEND agreed to a $1.5 billion tie-up with Florida-based JFB Construction Holdings, Reuters wrote.

Demand for drones has surged in recent years, becoming a priority for the US Department of Defense and other militaries. The war in Ukraine has accelerated this trend, as dense air defense near the front line has limited the use of conventional aircraft and increased reliance on unmanned systems for reconnaissance, strike missions, and logistics.

Venture capitalists and Silicon Valley heavyweights are now pouring cash into military AI and drone startups. With governments aggressively stockpiling autonomous tech, valuations for frontrunners like Anduril Industries and Shield AI have skyrocketed.

Powerus, founded in 2025 by Andrew Fox, produces heavy-lift drones capable of carrying industrial payloads of up to 675 kilograms. The company also develops technology that can convert manned boats into remotely operated or fully autonomous vessels, expanding its focus beyond aerial systems to maritime applications, according to Reuters.

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Fox is expected to become chief executive officer and chairman of the combined company once the merger is completed, Aureus said in its filing.

As part of the transaction, Aureus has hired Dominari Securities to help raise approximately $9 million in financing. Dominari’s shareholder list includes both Trump brothers, each holding roughly 6 percent stakes.

The companies said the merger could be terminated if the transaction is not finalized by the end of 2026.

The Trump brothers' latest merger highlights a global financial gold rush into defense technology, a boom heavily accelerated by the war in Ukraine.

With drones now dominating the battlefield, investors are aggressively pushing autonomous tech companies into the public markets. It was recently reported that the Ukrainian drone swarm startup Swarmer is preparing for a Nasdaq IPO after closing a record $15 million funding round.

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