$ZENA News: ZenaTech Initiates Plans for a Ukraine Testing Facility for Drone Testing and Operational Validation of its Interceptor Defense Systems
ZenaTech Inc.
Tue, April 7, 2026 at 8:30 AM EDT 7 min read
Company adds to its Ukraine manufacturing plans with a testing facility to leverage world’s most operationally demanding drone warfare environment to validate its platforms under real-world conditions
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 07, 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 plans to establish a dedicated testing facility in Ukraine and conduct drone testing and operational deployment activities to validate its drone platforms in active threat environments. This planned Ukrainian drone testing and deployment will place ZenaTech’s R&D and product validation directly within the world’s most active and operationally demanding drone warfare theater, enabling real-world testing of its Interceptor P-1 and other drone defense systems. This future testing facility will be in addition to the company’s previously disclosed plans for initiation of a manufacturing facility in Ukraine, positioning the company for the accelerated development of cost-effective counter-UAS systems for US-allied defense customers worldwide.
“Ukraine represents an unparalleled testing and validation environment for defense drone systems,” said Shaun Passley, Ph.D., ZenaTech CEO. “There is no testing environment on earth that replicates the operational intensity, threat complexity, and pace of innovation occurring in Ukraine today. By conducting our drone testing and product validation in this environment, we gain a level of real-world operational credibility that cannot be replicated in a laboratory or controlled airspace. Every data point we expect to collect, every engagement scenario we plan to validate, and every product iteration we execute in Ukraine will directly strengthen our product offering for defense customers from Gulf states to NATO allies to the U.S. Department of War.”
The company announced that it has initiated Ukraine operations and the establishment of a drone manufacturing facility that is intended to serve as a primary production hub for the company's Interceptor P-1 one-way expendable interceptor drone, targeted to sell for under $5,000 USD. It plans to utilize this Ukraine facility to manufacture its counter-UAS platforms, which are being engineered to defeat hostile drones at a fraction of the cost of conventional missile-based interception. These operations are designed to leverage Ukraine's deep aerospace engineering talent base and its position at the forefront of real-world drone warfare and counter-drone innovation.
Western Ukraine has emerged as the center of the country’s defense technology ecosystem, benefiting from relative security, proximity to NATO logistics corridors, and a rapidly growing defense-tech cluster. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has streamlined drone testing regulations under martial law, simplifying authorization pathways for defense-affiliated operators.
ZenaTech is currently working with legal and compliance experts to set up and structure its Ukraine operations as well as hiring staff. The company is also coordinating planned testing authorization through the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the State Aviation Authority of Ukraine (SAAU), leveraging the accelerated regulatory framework available to defense drone programs.
ZenaTech’s planned Ukraine-based operational testing program is designed to generate validated performance data, field-proven operational credibility, and battle-tested product refinement that will directly support the Company’s commercial engagement with defense procurement authorities globally. The Company plans to actively pursue defense customer engagement in the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the State of Qatar, where counter-drone capability has become a strategic national security priority.
The company is committed to compliance with all applicable regulations including export and trade controls. Further updates on testing facility set up and operational milestones achieved will be provided over the upcoming months.
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, surveying, monitoring, safety, security, and compliance, and maintenance 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, 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
ZenaTech Inc.
Tue, April 7, 2026 at 8:30 AM EDT 7 min read
Company adds to its Ukraine manufacturing plans with a testing facility to leverage world’s most operationally demanding drone warfare environment to validate its platforms under real-world conditions
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 07, 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 plans to establish a dedicated testing facility in Ukraine and conduct drone testing and operational deployment activities to validate its drone platforms in active threat environments. This planned Ukrainian drone testing and deployment will place ZenaTech’s R&D and product validation directly within the world’s most active and operationally demanding drone warfare theater, enabling real-world testing of its Interceptor P-1 and other drone defense systems. This future testing facility will be in addition to the company’s previously disclosed plans for initiation of a manufacturing facility in Ukraine, positioning the company for the accelerated development of cost-effective counter-UAS systems for US-allied defense customers worldwide. “Ukraine represents an unparalleled testing and validation environment for defense drone systems,” said Shaun Passley, Ph.D., ZenaTech CEO. “There is no testing environment on earth that replicates the operational intensity, threat complexity, and pace of innovation occurring in Ukraine today. By conducting our drone testing and product validation in this environment, we gain a level of real-world operational credibility that cannot be replicated in a laboratory or controlled airspace. Every data point we expect to collect, every engagement scenario we plan to validate, and every product iteration we execute in Ukraine will directly strengthen our product offering for defense customers from Gulf states to NATO allies to the U.S. Department of War.”
The company announced that it has initiated Ukraine operations and the establishment of a drone manufacturing facility that is intended to serve as a primary production hub for the company's Interceptor P-1 one-way expendable interceptor drone, targeted to sell for under $5,000 USD. It plans to utilize this Ukraine facility to manufacture its counter-UAS platforms, which are being engineered to defeat hostile drones at a fraction of the cost of conventional missile-based interception. These operations are designed to leverage Ukraine's deep aerospace engineering talent base and its position at the forefront of real-world drone warfare and counter-drone innovation.
Western Ukraine has emerged as the center of the country’s defense technology ecosystem, benefiting from relative security, proximity to NATO logistics corridors, and a rapidly growing defense-tech cluster. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has streamlined drone testing regulations under martial law, simplifying authorization pathways for defense-affiliated operators.
ZenaTech is currently working with legal and compliance experts to set up and structure its Ukraine operations as well as hiring staff. The company is also coordinating planned testing authorization through the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the State Aviation Authority of Ukraine (SAAU), leveraging the accelerated regulatory framework available to defense drone programs.
ZenaTech’s planned Ukraine-based operational testing program is designed to generate validated performance data, field-proven operational credibility, and battle-tested product refinement that will directly support the Company’s commercial engagement with defense procurement authorities globally. The Company plans to actively pursue defense customer engagement in the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the State of Qatar, where counter-drone capability has become a strategic national security priority.
The company is committed to compliance with all applicable regulations including export and trade controls. Further updates on testing facility set up and operational milestones achieved will be provided over the upcoming months.
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, surveying, monitoring, safety, security, and compliance, and maintenance 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, 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
