A little-known drone manufacturing company backed by Donald Trump Jr. has won its largest contract yet from the Pentagon, as part of the US government's expansion of drone purchases.
Florida-based company Unusual Machines, in which Trump Jr. owned a stake of about $4 million, announced that the US military has contracted it to produce 3,500 drone engines, as well as other ancillary parts for them.
The company also added that the military has signaled plans to order an additional 20,000 components from Unusual Machines next year.
The company's chief executive, Allan Evans, stated that this is the largest order ever received from the US government, but refused to disclose the value of the contract.
The officer of the 101st Airborne Division of the US Army, John Brown, said about this purchase:
"The ability to train like we fight, using reliable drones, gives our soldiers the confidence they need for real-world combat scenarios."
Unusual Machines shares rose as much as 13 percent on Friday after the news was released.
Trump Jr.'s role in the company
Unusual Machines brought on Donald Trump Jr. as an advisor in November 2024. The Financial Times previously reported that the company's share price nearly tripled in the weeks leading up to the announcement of the partnership.
After the appointment, the company stated that Trump Jr. owned 331,580 shares, worth about $4 million.
Trump Jr. is not required to disclose whether he has sold any of his shares, but Evans said earlier this year that the president's son has continued to invest in recent fundraising rounds.
Regarding the Pentagon contract, Evans told the Financial Times that Don Jr. “provided no advice and had no other role in this deal.”
A spokesman for Trump Jr. added: “Don has never communicated with anyone in the administration on behalf of Unusual Machines or about this contract. His advisory role is in no way related to interactions with the government.”
New drone policy
The procurement was announced last week, a few months after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in June aimed at boosting the domestic drone industry for civilian and military use.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has taken steps to accelerate the production and deployment of military drones, giving commanders independent authority to purchase and test the technology.
The Pentagon has emphasized the importance of drones in modern warfare, and the US military is aiming to acquire them in large quantities and at low cost. It is also collaborating with civilian companies and defense technology start-ups to develop the devices.
Secretary of the Army, Daniel Driscoll, stated this month that the forces he leads are at the forefront of drone development efforts:
"We will give our soldiers usable drones with devastating effects and minimal cost. I cannot emphasize enough the impact that drones will have on warfare and national defense."
In an interview with the FT, Driscoll added that his vision includes equipping special forces like the Ranger Regiment and Delta Force with personal drones, as well as integrating software engineers within combat units.
Company expansion and challenges
Unusual Machines has signed several other agreements with US defense suppliers in recent months, including:
• a $12.8 million deal with Strategic Logix in September, and
• a $1.6 million contract with a domestic drone manufacturer in August.
The company has said it is working to shift production of more components to the US, but has been hit by tariffs imposed by Trump, which have increased costs.
In the first quarter of the year, the company reported an operating loss of $3.3 million, partly due to tariffs and high costs for sourcing parts outside of China.
Unusual Machines warned that sourcing components from countries other than China could impact future profits.
The US military did not respond to the Financial Times' request for comment.
