ZenaTech Develops Low-Cost, Single-Use Autonomous Interceptor Drone for ZenaDrone’s Counter-UAS System for US Defense, Middle East, and Ukraine Use
Rhea-AI Summary
ZenaTech (Nasdaq: ZENA) announced that subsidiary ZenaDrone has begun development of Interceptor-P1, a low-cost, single-use autonomous VTOL interceptor drone for counter-UAS roles.
The prototype targets rapid, scalable interception against low-cost hostile drones, with prototype completion targeted in the upcoming months and planned launch options including ground, vehicle, and maritime deployment.
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News Market Reaction – ZENA
On the day this news was published, ZENA gained 6.05%, reflecting a notable positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +30.7% during that session. Our momentum scanner triggered 20 alerts that day, indicating elevated trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $8M to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $140M at that time.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
ZENA was down 1.83% pre-news while two momentum peers (ALAR, ARBE) were moving up modestly and core software/AI peers showed mixed, generally negative moves. This points to stock-specific dynamics around ZENA rather than a clear sector-wide trend.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 12 | Maritime patent filing | Positive | -2.2% | Provisional patent for maritime counter-UAS system combining ZenaDrone 2000 and IQ Glider. |
| Mar 10 | IQ Glider development | Positive | -1.3% | Began development of IQ Glider marine launch and refueling station for ZenaDrone 2000. |
| Mar 05 | ZenaDrone 2000 update | Positive | -2.6% | Detailed plans for gas-powered maritime interceptor drone targeting low-cost hostile drones at sea. |
| Mar 03 | US defense engagement | Positive | -6.6% | Planned meetings with US Congress on Blue UAS-aligned development and US manufacturing plans. |
| Feb 26 | Quantum navigation R&D | Positive | +7.3% | Initiated quantum navigation system for secure drone operations in GPS-denied environments. |
Recent defense and drone development announcements have generally been positive in tone but were followed by mixed-to-negative price reactions, with four of the last five news days seeing declines despite progress updates.
Over the past few weeks, ZenaTech has repeatedly highlighted defense-focused drone initiatives, including quantum navigation for GPS-denied operations, the ZenaDrone 2000 maritime interceptor, and the IQ Glider marine launch platform. It also filed a provisional patent for its maritime counter-UAS system. Despite this steady stream of development news, four of the last five events saw 24-hour price declines ranging from -1.27% to -6.64%, with only the quantum navigation update on Feb 26 producing a +7.25% move.
Regulatory & Risk Context
An effective Form F-3/A shelf filed on 2026-02-23 permits ZenaTech to issue up to $250,000,000 in various securities over time, giving the company substantial flexibility to raise capital via equity, debt, or hybrid instruments subject to future prospectus supplements.
Market Pulse Summary
The stock moved +6.0% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with ZenaTech’s push into defense-focused drones and counter-UAS solutions, including the new Interceptor-P1 concept. However, prior drone-related announcements often saw mixed follow-through, with four of the last five news events followed by 24-hour declines as steep as -6.64%. Investors monitoring sustainability would likely weigh future capital raises under the $250,000,000 shelf and actual contract wins against this enthusiasm.
Key Terms
vtol technical
counter-uas technical
unmanned aircraft system technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Designed to defeat enemy drones at a fraction of the cost of conventional air defense systems
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ZenaTech, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZENA) (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) ("ZenaTech"), a technology solution provider specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS, and Quantum Computing solutions, announces that its ZenaDrone subsidiary has initiated development of a prototype for a small, one-way interceptor drone designed to stop hostile drones by physically intercepting them in flight. The prototype, called Interceptor-P1, is an autonomous and expendable vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL)-design drone that can be added to the company’s counter-UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) defense system offering dramatically lower costs than traditional air munitions.
The drone addresses a critical asymmetry in modern warfare. Adversaries routinely deploy low-cost commercial and military drones at scale, while conventional intercept solutions, including surface-to-air missiles and laser systems, carry costs that are orders of magnitude higher than the threats they defeat. The Interceptor-P1 prototype is being purpose-built to reverse this equation.
“The drone threat on modern battlefields is accelerating faster than legacy defense budgets can absorb. Our Interceptor-P1 is being developed to give military and security forces an affordable, scalable answer by creating an interceptor and anti-drone system for a new world of asymmetric warfare,” said Shaun Passley, PhD, ZenaTech CEO. “Our strategy is to offer defense customers a full-spectrum of counter-drone solutions based on persistent maritime patrol with the ZenaDrone 2000 and IQ Glider launch station. Our emerging technologies are also forming a comprehensive, layered, counter-UAS ecosystem for land, sea, and littoral environments with the expendable point-intercept capabilities of the Interceptor P-1. This is exactly the kind of integrated, cost-effective capability that modern defense procurement demands.”
With versatile launch options planned, including ground, vehicle, and maritime deployment via the company’s IQ Glider, maritime drone platform, the Interceptor P-1 is being built to respond rapidly across multiple environments. By offering scalable interception capabilities, it is designed to help defense forces protect critical infrastructure, manage enemy drone swarms, and complement existing air defense systems as a strategic addition to ZenaDrone counter-UAS platform.
The company is targeting an initial prototype completion in the upcoming months and will provide further updates on product development, regulatory milestones, and defense and government agency engagement and pilots as progress continues.
The global counter-UAS market is growing at over
About ZenaTech
ZenaTech (Nasdaq: ZENA) (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) is a technology company specializing in AI drone, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS and Quantum Computing solutions for mission-critical applications for business, government and defense. Since 2017, the Company has leveraged its software development expertise and grown its drone design and manufacturing capabilities through ZenaDrone, to innovate and improve customer inspection, monitoring, safety, security, compliance, and surveying processes. With enterprise software customers using branded solutions in law enforcement, government, and industrial sectors, and drones being implemented in these plus agriculture, defense, and logistics sectors, ZenaTech’s portfolio of solutions helps drive speed, accuracy, and cost savings. The Company operates through global offices in North America, Europe, Taiwan, and UAE, and is growing its DaaS business and global network of locations through acquisitions.
About ZenaDrone
ZenaDrone, a wholly owned subsidiary of ZenaTech, develops and manufactures autonomous drone solutions that can incorporate machine learning software, AI, predictive modeling, Quantum Computing, and other software and hardware innovations. Created to revolutionize the hemp farming sector, its specialization has grown to multifunctional drone solutions for surveying, monitoring, inspection, tracking, process automation, and defense applications.
Currently, the ZenaDrone 1000 drone is used for crop management applications and critical field cargo applications in the defense sector, the IQ Nano indoor drone is used for inventory management and security in the warehouse and logistics sectors, the IQ Square is an outdoor drone designed for power washing and inspections use in commercial and government sectors, and the IQ Quad is for land surveys.
Contacts for more information:
Company, Investors, and Media:
Linda Montgomery
ZenaTech
312-241-1415
investors@zenatech.com
Investors:
Michael Mason
CORE IR
investors@zenatech.com
Safe Harbor
This press release and related comments by management of ZenaTech, Inc. include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws and applicable Canadian securities laws. These forward-looking statements are subject to the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This forward-looking information relates to future events or future performance of ZenaTech and reflects management’s expectations and projections regarding ZenaTech’s growth, results of operations, performance, and business prospects and opportunities. Such forward-looking statements reflect management’s current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by terminology such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “aim”, “seek”, “is/are likely to”, “believe”, “estimate”, “predict”, “potential”, “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information in this document includes, but is not limited to ZenaTech’s expectations regarding its revenue, expenses, production, operations, costs, cash flows, and future growth; expectations with respect to future production costs and capacity; ZenaTech's ability to deliver products to the market as currently contemplated, including its drone products including ZenaDrone 1000, IQ Square and IQ Nano; ZenaTech's ability to develop products for markets as currently contemplated; ZenaTech’s anticipated cash needs and it’s needs for additional financing; ZenaTech’s intention to grow the business and its operations and execution risk; expectations with respect to future operations and costs; the volatility of stock prices and market conditions in the industries in which ZenaTech operates; political, economic, environmental, tax, security, and other risks associated with operating in emerging markets; regulatory risks; unfavorable publicity or consumer perception; difficulty in forecasting industry trends; the ability to hire key personnel; the competitive conditions of the industry and the competitive and business strategies of ZenaTech; ZenaTech’s expected business objectives for the next twelve months; ZenaTech’s ability to obtain additional funds through the sale of equity or debt commitments; investment capital and market share; the ability to complete any contemplated acquisitions; changes in the target markets; market uncertainty; ability to access additional capital, including through the listing of its securities in various jurisdictions; management of growth (plans and timing for expansion); patent infringement; litigation; applicable laws, regulations, and any amendments affecting the business of ZenaTech and other related risks and uncertainties disclosed under the heading “Risk Factors“ in the Company’s Form F-1, Form 20-F and other filings filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on EDGAR through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents managements’ best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.
FAQ
What is ZenaTech (ZENA) announcing about the Interceptor-P1 interceptor drone on March 17, 2026?
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