US drone maker Powerus signs Pakistan Army MOU, gets initial order

[Pioneer]

From purely technical and commercial perspectives, the most rational approach for Pakistan is to directly import components for general-purpose civilian drones from China and assemble them domestically.

Many Chinese component suppliers accept ODM orders as well as requests for product customization—whether unbranded or branded according to client specifications. China has no export restrictions on civilian general-purpose drone components. (But, China's export controls impose strict restrictions on high-precision detection and sensing components and explosives.)

Russia has already adopted this approach. They established a shell company in Northeast China to procure large quantities of components from the Chinese market, which are then shipped back to Russia for assembly. Ukraine, rather than setting up such companies in mainland China, established multiple shell companies in Hong Kong, Singapore, and other Southeast Asian nations to source components for its domestic assembly plants. Meanwhile, most other countries acquire these "unbranded" components through standard international trade and logistics channels, whereas nations like Iran rely on multi-layered trade intermediaries for procurement. ------ These countries will not admit to it in public international forums. However, employees within these Chinese companies occasionally reveal such information on Chinese social media.

Manufacturing these small-to-medium-sized drones is not difficult. However, it depends on how you define "autonomous manufacturing." Globally, no country can manufacture such drones on a large scale and at a low cost without relying on China's supply chain. No exceptions!

Can you stop bringing China into discussions with other countries?

 

[Owaiz]

Was there any competitive bidding for this order ? This company has a limited track record and annual revenues ranging between 25 and 100 million dollars over the last three years and is merging with a Trump family related golf course operator.

Seems like a clear case of a bribe and the Dems are sure to investigate this and have public hearings once they take control of Congress in a few months.

 

[hussain0216]

The company sources large quantities of components from China, assembles them in the U.S., and affixes its own logo—effectively making them "Made in USA."

Now, they are partnering with Pakistan...

It is a "lucrative business." They reap handsome returns without having to do any actual work.

Naturally, the "Made in USA" label ensures support from certain people in Pakistan. They will claim that these goods embody America's cutting-edge technology and superior quality—making them better than Chinese products, and, of course, more expensive.

Think of it in a different way

"Powerus" strikes a deal Pakistan to produce a drone inside Pakistan for the Pakistani military utilizing "American-Pakistani" tech

If some of the parts come from China

Then it's easy to get those parts bought into Pakistan

And then sell the drone on to other possible buyers as a U.S/Pakistan project


It's all games and shadows and you have to play the game

 

[Distant_Observer]

Was there any competitive bidding for this order ? This company has a limited track record and annual revenues ranging between 25 and 100 million dollars over the last three years and is merging with a Trump family related golf course operator.

Seems like a clear case of a bribe and the Dems are sure to investigate this and have public hearings once they take control of Congress in a few months.

 

[Raj-Hindustani]

The company sources large quantities of components from China, assembles them in the U.S., and affixes its own logo—effectively making them "Made in USA."

Now, they are partnering with Pakistan...

It is a "lucrative business." They reap handsome returns without having to do any actual work.

Naturally, the "Made in USA" label ensures support from certain people in Pakistan. They will claim that these goods embody America's cutting-edge technology and superior quality—making them better than Chinese products, and, of course, more expensive.

The way you're claiming – making sense USA is milking Pakistan, being a third wheel here, as a middleman

 

[030292]

Was there any competitive bidding for this order ? This company has a limited track record and annual revenues ranging between 25 and 100 million dollars over the last three years and is merging with a Trump family related golf course operator.

Seems like a clear case of a bribe and the Dems are sure to investigate this and have public hearings once they take control of Congress in a few months.

This is obviously another grift by trump to enrich himself and his family.

 

[atmi_bum]

I will say it: a sweetheart deal to please the Trumps. So far, it's only an MoU; we will have to see the number of units and the price.

 

[GatlingGunZ]

And then sell the drone on to other possible buyers as a U.S/Pakistan project

Definitely not India, but will Israel be included in the potential customers ??

 

[lightning f57]

I think the americans are quite far behind when it comes to low cost drones for surveillance and attack. China is definitely leading in this field so this agreement I personally think is more political to keep trump happy.

 

[Pioneer]

Think of it in a different way

"Powerus" strikes a deal Pakistan to produce a drone inside Pakistan for the Pakistani military utilizing "American-Pakistani" tech

If some of the parts come from China

Then it's easy to get those parts bought into Pakistan

And then sell the drone on to other possible buyers as a U.S/Pakistan project


It's all games and shadows and you have to play the game

Sorry. I think my compatriot just had a sudden bout of "teacher syndrome".

We generally believe that arbitrarily taking on the role of a teacher for others is an ignorant and arrogant act. 99% of my compatriots would never do so.

Our evaluation of this behavior is very sarcastic. Just ~ 好为人师。

 

[vasanthm]

Looks like Trump and family is shafting the Pakistani state economically from every angle they can, supported by the 'genraals'

 

[Distant_Observer]

This will give them access to battle tested Ukranian software.

 

[KAL-EL]

I don't know but Chinese members here implying that this company uses Chinese components.

Chinese members here saying this doesn't automatically make it a fact.

A lot of times it ends up not being true

 

[Asfandyar Bhittani]

So much cope and unwarranted jealousy from every corner in this thread lol. And no substance.

Anyway, somebody asked about the products. So a summary.

Guardian, basically a shahed interceptor.

Matrix series of FPVs
Matrix 3. 0.7 kg payload
Matrix 5. 1.6 kg payload. 8 km "data link " range
Matrix 7. 2.7 kg payload. 12 km DL range
Matrix 10. 4.5 kg payload. 20km DL range.

Matrix fold. This one is interesting. Instead of a specialized drone, its common airframe with a cartridge bay. The operator can swap the electronics/mission package in the field.
They spell out this cartridges/loadouts

"(1)Fiber
Zero-RF control on a spooled fiber run.
(2) Autonomous
Onboard autonomy for operator-light tasking.
(3) Digital
Encrypted digital link and video pipeline.
(4) Anti-Jam
Hardened navigation for contested spectrum."

Matrix T trainer

Matrix Series pilot kit. Ground station goodies.

They also have some commerical use, fire fighting, basic ISR, and crop dusting drones that I think are irrelevant to us.
__________________________

If the deal goes through, and they do build some manufacturing capacity in Pakistan, I think it will be mainly to arm the Americans and their customers. Pakistan itself will go the Russia route with these products like ehen Russia first bought some shaheds, then started their own line under "Geran" instead of continuing buying it from the Iranians. Unless the Powerus build in Pakistan project is big enough to mass produce at scale that it would be cheaper to buy them off the shelf. Which I don't see happening.

As for china, it's irrelevant whether it can be done with or without them. Same goes for the Americans and POWERUS. Either way, Pakistan needs to build a massive scale drone industry to rival that of Ukraine for Pakistan faces the exactly similar and bigger threat Ukraine did. Which is Soviet junk rolling through the plains from the east.

 

[PK781]

imagine if we get some VIPER DRONES to use against next door neighbours eh