Powerus, a US-based autonomous systems company building next-generation drone infrastructure for defense and critical infrastructure, has announced the debut of its Guardian-2 Interceptor system following a successful demonstration that led to a limited procurement order from the US Air Force. The Guardian-2 is a low-cost, semi-autonomous, high-speed counter-drone interceptor platform built to defeat hostile unmanned aerial threats at scale, purpose-built for deployment in the Middle East to defend against Shahed-type attack drones. Its design emphasizes high-volume production and rapid capacity expansion, offering a major cost advantage over traditional drone defense systems that have historically required extensive training and long development timelines.
The US Air Force tested the Guardian-2 to address what it described as critical capability gaps for small teams operating outside the wire, seeking a lightweight, deployable capability to detect, track, and defeat small unmanned aerial systems in austere environments. The limited procurement order that followed the demonstration marks an early but meaningful milestone for Powerus as a defense technology partner supporting the US military’s evolving mission needs. Powerus says it continues to work closely with US defense and national security stakeholders and allies to provide battlefield-ready, field-proven technology across ongoing operations and strategic priorities.
Powerus was founded by a team with direct operational experience in active conflict environments worldwide and brings together field-validated technologies under a unified operating architecture supported by US-based manufacturing and allied-nation partnerships. The company is also in the process of completing a proposed merger with Aureus Greenway Holdings Inc., which trades on Nasdaq under the ticker AGH. Upon completion of the merger, which was unanimously approved by the boards and a majority of stockholders of both companies, the combined entity is expected to trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol PUSA. The merger is expected to close in summer 2026.
The Guardian-2 reflects a broader shift in defense thinking toward low-cost, scalable, and rapidly deployable counter-drone systems that can match the economics of the drone threats they are designed to defeat. Modern conflicts have increasingly demonstrated the vulnerability of conventional defense assets to inexpensive drones, creating demand for interceptor systems that can be produced at scale, deployed quickly, and operated with minimal training. Powerus says the Guardian-2’s kill chain has been proven to work, and that the company’s systems are purpose-built for the modern battlefield where speed, scale, and cost are as important as technical capability.
KEY QUOTES:
“This is about saving American lives. Because our systems are built for the modern battlefield, we’re seeing increased demand for our semi-autonomous Guardian-2 interceptors to defend critical infrastructure and save lives in the Middle East, where our allies face threats outside the wire. That is what matters. The Guardian-2 works. The kill chain works.”
Brett Velicovich, Co-Founder, Powerus
