ZenaTech’s ZenaDrone Announces the Filing of a Patent for its Maritime Defense System Combining ZenaDrone 2000 Interceptor Drone and IQ Glider Autonomous Marine Station
Rhea-AI Summary
ZenaTech (Nasdaq: ZENA) announced that its ZenaDrone subsidiary filed a provisional patent application with the USPTO on March 12, 2026 for a maritime counter‑UAS architecture combining the ZenaDrone 2000 interceptor drone and the IQ Glider autonomous marine launch and refueling station.
The filing seeks patent‑pending protection for a ship‑based, persistent interception system designed for multi‑drone/swarm engagement, autonomous docking and refueling sequencing, multi‑drone relay operations, and AI navigation for GPS‑denied environments. Prototypes remain in development; ZenaDrone 2000 prototype testing is expected before year‑end 2026.
Positive
- Filed provisional patent with USPTO on March 12, 2026
- Patent covers integrated ZenaDrone 2000 and IQ Glider system architecture
- System designed for persistent, multi‑drone interception and relay operations
Negative
- Both ZenaDrone 2000 and IQ Glider remain in active development, not commercialized
- ZenaDrone 2000 is a gas‑powered prototype with testing only expected before year‑end 2026
News Market Reaction – ZENA
In the Mar 12 session, ZENA declined 2.16%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction. Argus tracked a trough of -2.0% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 5 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 10 | IQ Glider development | Positive | -1.3% | Announced development of IQ Glider autonomous marine launch and refueling station. |
| Mar 05 | Maritime interceptor update | Positive | -2.6% | Detailed design-stage ZenaDrone 2000 maritime interceptor and expected year-end prototype testing. |
| Mar 03 | Defense engagement | Positive | -6.6% | Outlined Blue UAS-aligned development, NDAA-compliant supply chain and U.S. manufacturing plans. |
| Feb 26 | Quantum navigation R&D | Positive | +7.3% | Launched quantum navigation system program for GPS-denied drone operations across platforms. |
| Feb 24 | Acquisition award | Positive | +1.6% | Won award recognizing 20 DaaS acquisitions in 2025 and expansion of DaaS network. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Recent ZenaDrone defense and development updates have often seen mixed reactions, with three positive-sounding technology and engagement announcements followed by negative 24h moves, and two defense-tech items drawing positive responses.
Over the last few weeks, ZenaTech has steadily communicated defense-focused drone initiatives. Updates included development of the ZenaDrone 2000 maritime interceptor and the IQ Glider launch station, quantum navigation for GPS‑denied environments, and U.S. defense and Congressional engagement (Feb 24–Mar 10). An acquisition award linked to 20 DaaS deals in 2025 also featured. Today’s maritime patent filing builds directly on those prior ZenaDrone 2000 and IQ Glider development disclosures.
Key Terms
counter-UAS technical
autonomous docking technical
GPS-denied technical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Company secures patent-pending status to protect novel architecture for a constant, ship-based autonomous drone interception system designed to counter drone swarm threats at a fraction of the cost of missile-based countermeasures
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 12, 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 filed a provisional patent application for its maritime drone defense system combining the ZenaDrone 2000 maritime interceptor drone and the IQ Glider autonomous marine launch and refueling station. The patent application covers the company’s counter-UAS system architecture, designed to enable persistent, ship-based drone interception capable of autonomously detecting, engaging, and intercepting multiple incoming unmanned aerial threats. The provisional patent was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and represents the first step in building a defensible intellectual property portfolio for the company’s maritime defense system.
“Protecting our intellectual property is a critical component of our long-term strategy and continued success of the company,” said Shaun Passley, PhD, ZenaTech CEO. “This patent filing will help create a broad portfolio of intellectual property around this program and potential future programs. As drone warfare continues to evolve, protecting the core technologies behind our next-generation defense systems is essential. With a deliberate patent filing program, our goal is to secure a defensible position around technologies we believe will be central to autonomous maritime defense. These are built for the new era of asymmetric warfare, where the economies of multimillion-dollar missiles pitted against a swarm of cheap drones are no longer viable.”
The patent application covers the ZenaDrone 2000 interceptor drone as well as the integrated system architecture that enables the IQ Glider marine station, which is designed to autonomously launch and refuel multiple ZenaDrone 2000 interceptor drones from a maritime vessel. Achieving patent-pending status is the start of creating a defensible IP moat around the combined ZenaDrone 2000 and IQ Glider system.
Operating ZenaDrone 2000 interceptor drones in a continuous relay launching from the IQ Glider marine station, the system is designed to provide constant aerial interception coverage capable of detecting, tracking, and intercepting multiple incoming drones or drone swarm threats. Key elements of the system are expected to include autonomous docking and refueling sequencing, multi-drone relay operations enabling uninterrupted coverage, and AI-driven navigation and threat engagement capabilities designed to operate in complex or GPS-denied environments.
Both the IQ Glider and the ZenaDrone 2000 interceptor drone are currently in active development. The ZenaDrone 2000 gas-powered prototype is at the design and development stage, with testing expected before the end of the year. The IQ Glider is being developed in parallel as the dedicated launch and refueling infrastructure for ZenaDrone 2000 fleet operations. ZenaTech will provide updates on combined system development milestones, prototype testing timelines, patent updates, and defense customer engagement as they are achieved.
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.
