ZenaTech Tests Internally Made Circuit Boards in ZenaDrone to Pursue U.S. Defense Certification
ZenaTech has begun flight-testing drones built with its own printed circuit boards, a step toward U.S. defense certification that bars Chinese components.
ZenaTech has started flight-testing ZenaDrone units equipped with printed circuit boards (PCBs) it manufactures in-house, rather than sourcing them from outside suppliers. The move is a deliberate step in the company's vertical integration strategy — controlling more of its own supply chain — as it works toward Blue UAS Certification, a U.S. government designation confirming a drone meets National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) requirements excluding Chinese-made parts and systems. Blue UAS Certification is administered under the Department of Defense's Defense Innovation Unit program and is required for drones used in federal and defense contexts. U.S. law, through successive NDAA provisions, has progressively restricted federal agencies from purchasing drones made by Chinese manufacturers such as DJI, creating an opening for domestic and NDAA-compliant producers. ZenaTech, which develops drones and enterprise software, is positioning ZenaDrone to fill that gap. By producing PCBs internally, the company reduces reliance on foreign components — a key compliance concern under NDAA rules — and aims to strengthen its eligibility for defense and government contracts.
Why it matters
Federal restrictions on Chinese-made drones have created substantial procurement opportunities for NDAA-compliant U.S. suppliers, and Blue UAS Certification is a gating requirement to access that market. Companies that achieve it gain eligibility for defense and federal agency contracts that are off-limits to non-certified competitors.
What's next
The outcome of in-house PCB flight testing and any subsequent submission for formal Blue UAS Certification review would be the key developments to watch.
Key facts
- ZenaTech has begun flight-testing ZenaDrone units using printed circuit boards it manufactures internally
- Blue UAS Certification, required for federal drone procurement, is administered by the DoD's Defense Innovation Unit
- NDAA provisions restrict U.S. federal agencies from purchasing drones made by Chinese manufacturers, including DJI
- In-house PCB production is intended to reduce foreign-component content, a compliance requirement under NDAA rules
- ZenaTech frames the move as part of a broader vertical integration strategy to control its supply chain
Bias & framing notes
Both sources carry identical text and appear to reproduce the same company press release verbatim — Financial Post and GlobeNewswire are both common press-release distribution channels, not independent editorial outlets. There is no independent journalistic verification of the claims, no third-party commentary, and no detail on the scope or results of testing. The framing is entirely promotional, originating from ZenaTech itself.
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