ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA) shares began Tuesday with substantial gains. The company, a technology solution provider specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drones, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS, and Quantum Computing solutions, announces that its U.S.-based subsidiary ZenaDrone has commenced flight testing of its custom-designed printed circuit boards (PCBs) at its UAE manufacturing and testing facility, integrating the proprietary boards directly into its ZenaDrone 1000 and IQ Nano drone platforms.
This morning’s news release says the boards are designed and manufactured at the Company’s Taiwan-based Spider Vision Sensors (SVS) subsidiary, then shipped to UAE for integration and flight validation, representing the latest step in ZenaTech’s strategy to build a vertically integrated, defense-grade supply chain positioned to capture growing U.S. government demand for NDAA-compliant drone technology.
"Flight testing our in-house circuit boards is a proof point in our vertical integration strategy, which we believe is central to long-term shareholder value," said CEO Shaun Passley.
"Designing and manufacturing our own boards through Spider Vision Sensors, rather than depending on third-party or foreign suppliers, gives us control over cost, quality, and our timeline to Blue UAS certification, considered a gateway to higher-volume procurement and U.S. Defense Department and NATO contracts. With Chinese-made drones being pushed out of the federal market, we believe ZenaDrone is well positioned to capture a meaningful share of a U.S. defense drone market being reshaped in our favor."
ZENA shares jumped 18 cents, or 10.5%, to $1.89.
