WASHINGTON (Realist English). A Florida-based drone manufacturer Unusual Machines, partially owned by Donald Trump Jr, has secured its largest-ever contract from the U.S. Department of Defense as the Pentagon accelerates its investment in unmanned systems.
The company said it will produce 3,500 drone motors and other components for the U.S. Army, with the potential for an additional 20,000 parts order next year. Chief Executive Allan Evans confirmed that the deal marks Unusual Machines’ biggest U.S. government order to date, though he declined to reveal its total value.
“This capability allows us to train like we fight,” said Chief Warrant Officer John Brown of the 101st Airborne Division. “Reliable drones give our soldiers the confidence they need for real-world missions.”
Shares in Unusual Machines rose as much as 13% on Friday following the announcement.
Unusual Machines brought Trump Jr on board as an adviser in November 2024, disclosing that he owned 331,580 shares, now worth roughly $4 million. The Financial Times previously reported that the company’s stock price nearly tripled in the weeks before his appointment was made public.
Evans emphasized that Trump Jr “did not advise or play any role” in the Pentagon deal. A spokesperson for Trump Jr added: “He has never communicated with anyone in the administration about Unusual Machines or the contract. His advisory role has nothing to do with government procurement.”
The contract comes amid a major White House push to expand the U.S. drone industry. In June, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to boost domestic drone production for both military and commercial use. Since then, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has accelerated drone acquisition programs and delegated procurement authority to field commanders to speed deployment.
Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said this month that the service aims to equip soldiers with “expendable drones that deliver devastating effects at a massive discount.” He added that elite units, including the Ranger Regiment and Delta Force, will be equipped with drones and supported by embedded software engineers.
Unusual Machines has recently expanded its defense partnerships, signing a $12.8 million agreement with Strategic Logix in September and a $1.6 million deal with another U.S. drone maker in August.
The company, which has sought to localize more of its manufacturing in the United States, has also been affected by the Trump administration’s tariffs, citing a $3.3 million operating loss in the first quarter due to higher component costs.
Unusual Machines warned that the shift away from Chinese suppliers could pressure its profit margins, though executives said the Pentagon contract represents a “significant milestone” in the firm’s growth within the defense sector.
The U.S. Army has not commented publicly on the deal.
