Eric Trump has expanded the Trump family’s presence in the defence technology sector by becoming a major investor and strategic adviser to Space-Eyes, an artificial intelligence driven defence technology company that is preparing to go public through a merger with McKinley Acquisition Corp. According to Reuters, the transaction values the combined business at approximately $638 million and is expected to generate up to $251.7 million in gross proceeds, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. The Miami based company develops AI powered counter drone and geospatial intelligence technologies for governments and security agencies, with the merged entity expected to trade on the Nasdaq under the ticker CUAS.
Eric Trump recently became the company’s third largest private investor and will serve as a strategic adviser following the merger. Bloomberg reported that his role will include advising on drone related security threats, supporting board recruitment and helping identify commercial opportunities as Space-Eyes expands beyond research and development into large scale government and corporate contracts. The company is currently pursuing potential contracts worth about $35 million over five years in areas including border surveillance, anti drone systems and critical infrastructure protection.
The proposed listing reflects growing investor interest in defence technology as governments worldwide increase spending on artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and national security capabilities. For investors, the deal highlights continued momentum in defence focused technology companies that combine software, data analytics and surveillance solutions, sectors increasingly viewed as strategic growth markets amid rising geopolitical tensions. The transaction also underscores the resurgence of selected SPAC listings for companies operating in high growth industries.
Looking ahead, Space-Eyes plans to accelerate commercial expansion through third party manufacturing while pursuing larger defence and security contracts across North America, the Caribbean and the Middle East. If completed in the fourth quarter of 2026, the public listing would position the company to access additional capital as demand for AI powered defence and counter drone technologies continues to grow globally.
