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
MWN-AI** Summary
ZenaTech, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZENA), a leader in technology solutions including AI drones, has announced that its subsidiary, ZenaDrone, has filed a provisional patent application for an innovative maritime drone defense system. This system integrates the ZenaDrone 2000 interceptor drone with the IQ Glider autonomous marine launch and refueling station. The patent focuses on an advanced counter-UAS (unmanned aerial system) architecture capable of detecting, engaging, and intercepting multiple aerial threats autonomously.
Shaun Passley, CEO of ZenaTech, emphasized the importance of protecting intellectual property as a pillar of the company’s growth strategy. He stated that as drone warfare technology evolves, securing patents for these next-generation defense systems is critical to maintain a competitive edge. The filing aims to establish a strong intellectual property portfolio surrounding the maritime defense system, which is designed to operate efficiently in today’s asymmetric warfare landscape where traditional missile technologies are becoming less effective against swarms of inexpensive drones.
The ZenaDrone 2000 interceptors, combined with the IQ Glider, are engineered to provide continuous aerial coverage by enabling multiple relays and autonomous operations. Key features of this system include autonomous docking, refueling sequences, and AI-driven navigation, making it adaptable even in complex environments where GPS may not be reliable.
Currently, the ZenaDrone 2000 is in the prototype testing phase with completions expected by year-end, alongside the development of the IQ Glider as its supportive infrastructure. ZenaTech plans to keep stakeholders updated on development milestones, defense customer engagements, and future patent filings, highlighting its commitment to revolutionizing maritime defense solutions through cutting-edge technology.
MWN-AI** Analysis
ZenaTech, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZENA) has recently announced a significant step forward by filing a provisional patent application for its innovative maritime defense system, which integrates the ZenaDrone 2000 interceptor drone with the IQ Glider autonomous marine station. This venture underscores the company's commitment to enhancing its intellectual property portfolio amid the rapidly evolving drone warfare landscape.
For investors, this move presents a compelling opportunity. The technology behind drone defense systems is gaining traction in both government and commercial sectors, especially as nations emphasize asymmetric warfare capabilities. ZenaTech's focus on creating a robust patent portfolio could establish a competitive advantage, potentially leading to greater market share as demand for autonomous maritime defense solutions grows.
Current developments of the ZenaDrone 2000 and IQ Glider, coupled with the patent application, indicate a strategic emphasis on enhancing operational capabilities through AI-driven navigation and autonomous functionalities. This positions ZenaTech favorably in sectors where continuous aerial coverage and threat engagement are paramount.
Moreover, the company's operations across North America, Europe, and the Middle East facilitate access to diverse markets, offering scalability and revenue diversification opportunities. Given the increasing adoption of Drone as a Service (DaaS) models, ZenaTech's comprehensive portfolio—from agricultural drones to defense applications—provides significant upside potential.
However, potential investors should approach ZenaTech with caution, acknowledging external market risks such as regulatory changes and competitive pressures. Given the inherent volatility in tech stocks, understanding ZenaTech's path to monetizing its developments through government contracts and commercial partnerships will be crucial.
In conclusion, while ZenaTech is positioning itself as a leader in the autonomous drone defense market, investors should monitor corporate developments and market conditions closely to optimize their investment strategy in this promising tech sector.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
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.?
FAQ**
How does ZenaTech Inc. ZENA plan to leverage its provisional patent for the maritime drone defense system to enhance its competitive position in the rapidly evolving drone warfare landscape?
What specific milestones does ZenaTech Inc. ZENA anticipate achieving in the development and testing phases of the ZenaDrone 2000 and IQ Glider by the end of the year?
Given the emphasis on protecting intellectual property, what other strategies is ZenaTech Inc. ZENA considering to secure its innovations in AI and autonomous maritime defense systems?
With expanding applications of drones in defense, agriculture, and logistics, how does ZenaTech Inc. ZENA envision balancing growth and innovation across these diverse sectors?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about ZenaTech Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA).
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