ZenaTech’s ZenaDrone Launches the IQ Nano Indoor Drone for US Defense Applications and Initiates Green and Blue UAS Certifications

Rhea-AI Summary

ZenaTech (NASDAQ: ZENA) has launched the ZenaDrone IQ Nano, a compact autonomous indoor drone designed for US Department of Defense applications. The drone specializes in inventory management, facility security, and search and rescue operations in GPS-denied environments. Key features include barcode scanning capabilities, HD and thermal imaging, AI-powered anomaly detection, and autonomous flight with night vision. The company plans to pursue Green UAS certification followed by Blue UAS certification to become an approved secure drone supplier for US military customers. The IQ Nano's carbon-fiber design enables stable operation in confined spaces and can function as part of a coordinated drone fleet. The launch aligns with recent US Executive Order policy directives aimed at accelerating DoD adoption of secure US-made drones.

Positive

• Product targets lucrative US defense market with new indoor drone solution
• Aligns with recent US Executive Order policy directives favoring US-made drones
• Multiple revenue opportunities through inventory management, security, and search & rescue applications
• Planned Green and Blue UAS certifications will enhance market access to military customers

Negative

• Certification processes for Green and Blue UAS not yet initiated
• Competition from established defense contractors in the military drone space
• Success dependent on passing strict security and performance evaluations

Insights

Defense Technology Analyst

ZenaTech's new indoor drone targets lucrative defense contracts through key certifications, expanding military applications with autonomous capabilities.

ZenaTech's launch of the IQ Nano indoor drone represents a strategic positioning within the growing defense drone market. The timing is particularly noteworthy as it aligns with recent US Executive Order policy changes designed to accelerate DoD adoption of secure, domestically-produced drone technology while streamlining procurement processes—essentially creating a more favorable environment for companies like ZenaTech.

The company's pursuit of Green UAS certification followed by the more stringent Blue UAS certification is a critical pathway to accessing defense contracts. The Blue UAS designation in particular would officially recognize ZenaTech as a secure drone supplier for military applications, opening doors to a substantial government customer base with recurring procurement cycles.

The IQ Nano's specifications reveal thoughtful engineering for defense-specific use cases. The drone's ability to operate in GPS-denied environments addresses a significant military challenge, while its carbon-fiber construction suggests durability in harsh conditions. The integration of HD and thermal imaging with AI-powered anomaly detection demonstrates advanced computer vision capabilities that align with modern defense requirements.

What's most compelling from a defense technology perspective is the drone's multi-mission versatility. Beyond basic surveillance, the IQ Nano's applications in automated inventory management (barcode scanning in armories and warehouses), facility mapping for digital twin creation, and search and rescue operations in inaccessible areas make it a flexible platform that can justify its cost across multiple defense department budgets.

The mention of fleet and swarm capabilities signals ZenaTech's awareness of current military drone trends, where coordinated autonomous systems are increasingly preferred over single-unit deployments. This approach multiplies the drone's utility for comprehensive facility surveillance and large-scale inventory management operations.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ZenaTech, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZENA) (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) ("ZenaTech"), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS, and Quantum Computing solutions, today announces the launch of the ZenaDrone’s IQ Nano, a compact autonomous indoor drone, for US Department of Defense (DoD) agencies and government use to innovate applications including inventory management, facility security, and search and rescue. Following recent US Executive Order policy directives aimed at fast-tracking DoD adoption of secure US-made drones and streamlining procurement, the company plans to apply for Green UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) certification, followed by Blue UAS certification required to be officially recognized as a secure and mission-ready drone supplier to US military customers.

“New policy directives have cleared regulatory hurdles and aligned procurement to supercharge US defense drone manufacturers,” said Shaun Passley, Ph.D., CEO of ZenaTech. “As defense agencies navigate an increasingly complex security and logistics landscape, autonomous AI technologies like the IQ Nano indoor drone are critical to maintain a tactical edge. By automating and streamlining tasks like inventory management, security, reconnaissance, and search and rescue, it frees personnel to focus on strategic decision-making, ultimately enhancing mission success and protecting lives.”

The IQ Nano drone is engineered for operations in GPS-denied, confined, or high-risk environments where traditional systems and personnel face operational challenges. It automates inventory management by precisely scanning barcodes of stock in armories and warehouses, reducing manual labour, human errors and improving safety. Equipped with HD and thermal imaging plus AI-powered anomaly detection, it enables secure indoor surveillance of command centers, ammunition depots, and restricted zones. Its stable hover capabilities, obstacle avoidance, and durable Carbon-fiber design ensure safe operation in confined spaces.

The drone’s autonomous flight and night vision capabilities support search and rescue by navigating dark, collapsed, or inaccessible areas to locate personnel, deliver supplies, and monitor for threats. Compact and rapidly deployable, the IQ Nano enhances agility across defense infrastructure and logistics.

Beyond these capabilities, the IQ Nano can support facility mapping and digital twin creation (virtual 3D model of a facility) to aid mission planning, maintenance, and infrastructure analysis. Additionally, it can also contribute to combat training and simulation exercises by replicating reconnaissance scenarios and capturing performance data in controlled environments.

The IQ Nano is designed to operate not just as a single unit but as a part of a drone fleet or swarm. In indoor military environments, these coordinated fleets can cover expansive or complex facilities simultaneously, enabling faster inventory audits, comprehensive surveillance, and enhanced situational awareness.

The company plans to initiate the Green UAS certification process for the IQ Nano which is considered a pathway to the Blue UAS certification list. The main difference is that the Green UAS is a commercial certification for secure drones led by the AUVSI drone industry association. The Blue UAS is a military-grade approval managed by the DoD, which includes additional security and performance evaluations and a strict country of origin requirement that must not include Chinese suppliers.

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 business applications. 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, logistics and land survey areas, ZenaTech’s portfolio of solutions helps drive exceptional operational efficiencies, accuracy, and cost savings. The Company operates through seven global offices in North America, Europe, Taiwan, and UAE, and is growing a DaaS business model and global partner network.

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 AI drone solutions for industrial surveillance, monitoring, inspection, tracking, process automation and defense applications. Currently, the ZenaDrone 1000 drone is used for crop management applications in agriculture and critical field cargo applications in the defense sector, the IQ Nano indoor drone is used for inventory management and security in commercial sectors, and the IQ Square is an indoor/outdoor drone designed for land surveys and inspections in the commercial and defense sectors.

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 and IQ Nano; 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. 

FAQ

What is the ZenaDrone IQ Nano and what are its main applications?

The ZenaDrone IQ Nano is a compact autonomous indoor drone designed for US Department of Defense applications, specializing in inventory management, facility security, and search and rescue operations in GPS-denied environments.

What certifications is ZENA pursuing for military contracts?

ZenaTech is pursuing Green UAS certification, followed by Blue UAS certification, which are required to become an approved secure drone supplier for US military customers.

What are the key features of the ZenaDrone IQ Nano?

Key features include barcode scanning, HD and thermal imaging, AI-powered anomaly detection, autonomous flight, night vision capabilities, carbon-fiber design, and the ability to operate in GPS-denied environments.

How does the IQ Nano support military operations?

The IQ Nano supports military operations through automated inventory management in armories, secure surveillance of restricted zones, search and rescue in inaccessible areas, facility mapping, and combat training simulations.

What is the difference between Green UAS and Blue UAS certification?

Green UAS is a commercial certification for secure drones led by AUVSI, while Blue UAS is a military-grade approval managed by the DoD with additional security requirements and strict restrictions on Chinese suppliers.