ZenaTech's ZenaDrone Joins AUVSI Defense Committee, Strengthening Collaboration with US Defense Sector and Government.

ZenaTech's drone division, ZenaDrone, has upgraded its membership with AUVSI to the Defense level, allowing it to join the Defense and Air Defense Committees. This membership enables ZenaDrone to collaborate with major drone and defense innovators, influencing critical drone policy and acquisition settings, and solidifying relationships with key stakeholders. The upgrade positions ZenaDrone to accelerate its path to UAS Green and Blue certification and capitalize on growth opportunities.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 2, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ZenaTech, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZENA) (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) ("ZenaTech"), a business technology solution provider specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drones, Drone as a Service (DaaS), Enterprise SaaS, and Quantum Computing solutions, has announced that its drone subsidiary ZenaDrone has upgraded its membership with the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) to the Defense level. This upgrade allows ZenaDrone to join both the Defense Advocacy Committee and the Air Advocacy Committee [1].

The upgrade enables ZenaDrone to collaborate with major drone and defense innovators, including Skydio, Anduril, Leidos, and Shield AI, to influence critical drone policy and acquisition settings. It also strengthens relationships with key stakeholders and decision-makers in the defense and government sectors [1].

Shaun Passley, Ph.D., CEO of ZenaTech, commented, "This is a clear investment in speed to market and long-term procurement success. By joining AUVSI’s Defense and Air Advocacy Committees, ZenaDrone gains direct access to the policy, compliance, and acquisition conversations that shape Department of Defense agency procurement. It positions us alongside trusted defense leaders and innovators, accelerating our path to Green and Blue UAS certification by strengthening our ability to meet the security, interoperability, and regulatory expectations of federal buyers and leverage growth opportunities" [1].

ZenaDrone will be able to collaborate with AUVSI’s network of industry leaders and regulators to influence federal drone policies and shape the future of the drone industry in the US. This participation provides direct access to federal decision-makers, enabling influence on key policy areas such as BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) regulation and streamlined procurement [1].

The upgrade comes at a pivotal time as recent Executive Orders and policy directives from the White House and Department of Defense accelerate support for NDAA-compliant, secure, and domestically produced drone technologies. These directives now move toward implementation, requiring practical policy frameworks and procurement processes—an area where ZenaDrone aims to contribute meaningfully [1].

Founded in 1972, AUVSI is the largest nonprofit advancing uncrewed and autonomous systems through innovation, policy, and collaboration. It connects government, industry, and academia to drive safe, efficient integration of emerging technologies. The Air Advocacy Committee shapes policies to expand drone operations in national airspace, while the Defense Advocacy Committee influences defense acquisition policies and promotes NDAA-compliant drone technology [1].

ZenaDrone, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ZenaTech, develops and manufactures autonomous business 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 industrial surveillance, monitoring, inspection, process automation, and defense applications [1].

The article from Dronelife.com highlights that the U.S. drone market is poised for prosperous expansion due to legislative backing, which de-risks investment in defense and dual-use drone companies. This has led to an influx of venture and public market investment into U.S.-aligned drone companies [2].

ZenaTech’s portfolio of solutions helps drive exceptional operational efficiencies, precision, and cost savings. The company operates through offices in North America, Europe, Taiwan, and UAE, and is growing its DaaS business and network in the US [1].

References:
[1] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/zenatech-zenadrone-initiates-auvsi-membership-113000411.html
[2] https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/07/31/3125050/0/en/U-S-Drone-Market-Outlook-and-Competitive-Landscape-Becoming-a-Sector-Poised-for-Prosperous-Expansion.html