Powerus Unveils a Fully Autonomous Guardian 3 Interceptor Days After an $82 Million Counter-Drone Order
Powerus says it is automating the final kill because the U.S. lacks Ukraine's drone-pilot brigades, while the Congressional Budget Office counts U.S. missile interceptor stocks down by up to two-thirds.
Powerus says it is automating the final kill because the U.S. lacks Ukraine's drone-pilot brigades, while the Congressional Budget Office counts U.S. missile interceptor stocks down by up to two-thirds.
Powerus unveiled Guardian 3, a fully autonomous version of its drone interceptor, on Oct. 12 at the Association of the United States Army annual meeting, Military Times reported. The company is based in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and began trading on Nasdaq 11 days earlier.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Powerus Guardian 3?
A fully autonomous version of the company's Guardian drone interceptor, unveiled Oct. 12 at the AUSA annual meeting. When a radar cues it, it launches and can detect and strike using AI and navigation systems, president Brett Velicovich told Military Times. No specifications have been published.
How does Guardian 3 differ from Guardian 1 and 2?
Guardian 1 was modeled on Ukraine's manually flown interceptors; Guardian 2 launches on radar data but an operator flies the final kill; Guardian 3 removes that manual final phase, per Velicovich's description to Military Times.
What is the $82 million order?
An Oct. 6 order for counter-unmanned aerial systems, the second under an existing U.S. government contract, with deliveries over the next several quarters, per Powerus. Tectonic Defense linked it to a $90 million Air Force contract awarded in August; Powerus named neither buyer nor product.
Who backs Powerus?
Powerus completed a merger on Oct. 1 with Aureus Greenway Holdings, a golf-course holding company whose March merger announcement named Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump as notable investors, per Military Times. It trades on Nasdaq as PUSA.
Why does U.S. interceptor supply matter here?
The Congressional Budget Office estimated the Iran conflict consumed half to two-thirds of the U.S. inventory of Patriot, THAAD, SM-3 and SM-6 interceptors since June 2025, with rebuilding taking at least five years, which is the demand Powerus says cheaper autonomous interceptors address.
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Marcus Schuler
Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.