Distributed on behalf of ZenaTech
Drone stocks, including ZenaTech (NASDAQ: ZENA), Ondas Holdings (NASDAQ: ONDS), AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV), Leonardo DRS Inc. (NASDAQ: DRS), and Unusual Machines Inc. (NYSE: UMAC) are just starting to take off.
For one, drones are just starting to revolutionize various multi-billion-dollar industires, such as construction and infrastructure, agriculture, logistics, energy and utilities, public security, engineering and telecom to name a few. Two, with support from the Trump Administration, drone technology has become an essential tool for the government.
In fact, President Trump just announced plans to ask Congress for a $1.5 trillion defense budget of 2027, which would be about $500 billion more than current numbers. That increase would help create a “Dream Military” and include funding for drones.
“This will allow us to build the ‘Dream Military’ that we have long been entitled to and, more importantly, that will keep us SAFE and SECURE, regardless of foe,” Trump said in a posting on Truth Social, as quoted by Defense News.
That’s in addition to the White House’s AI Action Plan and the three Executive Orders issued in July 2025, which prioritize domestic AI innovation, infrastructure development, and deployment of ideologically neutral AI technologies.
And, we can’t forget Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s policy directive, Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance, which made it easier for American drone companies—especially those building Group 1 and 2 affordable drone systems—to sell directly to the military, scale production, and innovate without delays from traditional defense procurement bottlenecks including Blue UAS certification timelines.
Understanding Blue UAS and Green UAS Certification
With regard to Blue UAS certification, it provides assurance for mission-critical defense operations. It enables streamlined Department of War (DoW) procurement, faster contract approvals, and deployment in sensitive or classified operational environments, ensuring certified platforms are fully trusted for defense and federal applications.
There’s also Green UAS certification, which is a compliance and cybersecurity framework developed by AUVSI, the leading trade association for the uncrewed systems industry, in collaboration with the U.S. DoW. It ensures that drones are free of components from foreign adversaries and meet rigorous standards for cybersecurity, data protection, and supply chain integrity. The Green UAS certification process is expected to be streamlined for faster approvals under recent Executive Orders, which will pave the way for better alignment with Blue UAS certification, for which it is also a required precursor.
ZenaTech’s ZenaDrone Subsidiary, For Example, Just Initiated a Green UAS Application for ZenaDrone 1000 to Strengthen U.S. Defense and Government Procurement Prospects
ZenaTech just announced that its ZenaDrone subsidiary has formally initiated the Green UAS (Uncrewed Aircraft System) certification application process for its ZenaDrone 1000 (ZD1000). The ZenaDrone Flagship product is a heavy-lift multifunction AI drone platform intended for potential inclusion on approved procurement pathways for the U.S. Department of War (DoW) and government buyers upon successful certification.
“Initiating the Green UAS certification process for the ZenaDrone 1000 is a crucial step in expanding our U.S. defense and government engagement,” said Shaun Passley, Ph.D., ZenaTech CEO. “Secure, NDAA-aligned drone systems are increasingly becoming a baseline requirement for federal procurement. By advancing ZD1000 through the Green UAS pathway, our heavy-lift platform is on the path to deliver critical ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) and cargo capabilities for defense missions. Our initiation of this application process also reinforces our commitment to cybersecurity, supply chain integrity, and American-aligned innovation.”
The ZenaDrone 1000 is engineered as an advanced AI-powered VTOL heavy-lift platform optimized for defense use, offering ISR capabilities including real-time surveillance, tactical reconnaissance, and secure data collection, alongside cargo transport and mission-critical payload delivery. Its modular design allows rapid configuration for multi-mission operations in high-risk environments, from infrastructure monitoring to operational logistics support.
Other related developments from around the markets include:
Ondas Holdings, a leading provider of autonomous aerial and ground robot intelligence through its Ondas Autonomous Systems business unit and private wireless solutions through Ondas Networks, today announced that its fully owned subsidiary Airobotics has secured a new strategic contract with governmental defense customer in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. The award supports the deployment of Ondas' autonomous unmanned aerial capabilities for national security missions. The contract is expected to be executed over multiple phases, with initial deliveries beginning this year and potential follow-on orders anticipated as deployments expand. "We are announcing this new contract during the Singapore Airshow this week, reflecting the accelerating demand we are seeing across the Asia-Pacific region for mission-ready autonomous defense systems," said Eric Brock, Chairman and CEO of Ondas Holdings. "Governments in the region are responding to a rapidly evolving threat environment, particularly for borders, critical infrastructure, and sensitive national assets. Our autonomous platforms are purpose built for these challenges, delivering persistent protection, rapid response, and operational resilience in complex and contested environments."
AeroVironment, a global defense technology leader delivering software-enabled disruptive autonomous systems, and CAL Analytics, an innovator in advanced airspace management technologies, today announced the completed installation and initial operation of a new Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) airspace management facility at the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence (NAAMCE) at Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport in Springfield, Ohio. Initially developed under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), the project now features an upgraded installation that integrates AV_Halo™ COMMAND, AV’s command and control (C2) architecture, with CAL Analytics’ Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) enterprise platform to establish the nation’s premiere test environment and management facility, where Department of War operators can safely conduct BVLOS missions in shared airspace utilizing existing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ground radar feeds.
Leonardo DRS was awarded multiple contracts for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract with a ceiling of $151 billion. These contracts encompass a broad range of work areas that allow for the rapid delivery of innovative capabilities to the warfighter with increased speed and agility. Leonardo DRS is a leading U.S. defense technology company with operations across the country, rapidly designing, manufacturing, and delivering diverse, innovative, integrated technologies that advance next-generation air and missile defense capabilities across all domains. Backed by deep mission expertise and a nationwide industrial footprint, we help customers accelerate capability—from concept through production and sustainment—to meet evolving threats with speed, scale, and reliability.
Unusual Machines, a leading provider of NDAA-compliant drone components, today announced it has received a $2.1 million purchase order supporting domestically assembled drone systems for defense and government applications. The order reflects continued customer demand and a growing cadence of orders received in recent months as programs move into execution. The full $2.1 million order is expected to be fulfilled across the first and second quarters of this year, supported by existing manufacturing capacity and inventory readiness. The order includes Rotor Riot Brave flight controllers and Brave ESCs, Fat Shark Aura analog cameras, Aura video transmitters (VTX), and HDO+ headsets, as well as motors, for integration into customer drone platforms operating under compressed government timelines. "We've built our operations for visibility and control," said Drew Camden, Chief Operating Officer of Unusual Machines. "By aligning people, processes, and capacity early, we're able to execute quickly when timelines matter. That agility allows us to move alongside our customers as requirements take shape, rather than waiting for decisions to be finalized."
Legal Disclaimer / Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this article contains forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Winning Media is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice. Winning Media is only compensated for its services in the form of cash-based compensation. Pursuant to an agreement Winning Media has been paid three thousand five hundred dollars for advertising and marketing services for ZenaTech by ZenaTech. We own ZERO shares of ZenaTech. Please click here for full disclaimer.
Contact Information:
Ty Hoffer
Winning Media
281.804.7972
[email protected]
