ZenaTech advances three drones in Pentagon certification path

By AI, Created 8:25 PM UTC, May 21, 2026, /AGP/ – ZenaTech says three ZenaDrone platforms have entered the cybersecurity phase of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Blue UAS certification pathway, a step that could open the door to federal and defense procurement. The move puts the ZenaDrone 1000, IQ Square and IQ Nano closer to NDAA-compliant status under a streamlined Green-to-Blue review process.

Why it matters: - Blue UAS certification is the gatekeeper for direct procurement by U.S. defense agencies, federal departments and allied government buyers. - ZenaTech’s progress could move three drone platforms closer to eligible status on government procurement lists. - The update comes as demand rises for secure autonomous systems in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, logistics and asymmetric warfare.

What happened: - ZenaTech said the ZenaDrone 1000, IQ Square and IQ Nano advanced to the cybersecurity phase of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Blue UAS certification pathway. - The three platforms are being evaluated together under the streamlined Green-to-Blue framework administered by the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International. - The company said the drones are now in phase three, which includes third-party penetration testing.

The details: - ZenaDrone’s submissions completed phase one onboarding and phase two submission of the consolidated hardware bill of materials and NDAA supply-chain compliance documentation. - Cybersecurity validation will test system resilience, encryption integrity and operational security under simulated adversarial conditions. - Final Blue UAS status still depends on completion of the remaining certification phases and Defense Contract Management Agency review. - Blue UAS certification establishes National Defense Authorization Act compliance. - The certification clears a vendor for direct procurement by U.S. defense agencies, federal departments and allied government buyers. - The Blue UAS pathway has shifted since ZenaTech filed its initial Green UAS applications last year. - Under the updated framework, the Department of Defense uses third-party assessors and the Green UAS process to do more cybersecurity, supply-chain and NDAA validation earlier in the pipeline. - The Department of Defense still holds final authority over Blue UAS status and defense procurement access. - ZenaTech says the new process is more distributed, scalable and faster for domestic manufacturers. - Shaun Passley, ZenaTech CEO, said the company is positioning for “direct access to the U.S. defense agency market.” - Passley said the company is on the final stretch toward certification. - The company’s Nasdaq ticker is ZENA. - ZenaTech also trades on the FSE under 49Q and on the BMV under ZENA. - ZenaTech is a B2i Digital Featured Company. - A profile will be added soon at the featured companies page.

Between the lines: - The streamlined Green-to-Blue process appears to lower some of the early compliance burden for domestic drone makers. - ZenaTech is trying to position its drone line as secure and NDAA-compliant before final federal approval. - The company is using certification progress as a signal to defense buyers that its platforms are close to procurement readiness.

What’s next: - ZenaDrone must clear cybersecurity validation before moving through the remaining certification steps. - The Defense Contract Management Agency review remains a required checkpoint. - If the platforms complete the process, ZenaTech could gain access to a broader set of U.S. government and defense buying channels.

The bottom line: - ZenaTech is closer to a key defense-market validation step, but the three drones are not yet fully certified for Blue UAS procurement.