ZenaTech moves IQ Quad toward Blue UAS certification

ZenaTech said its ZenaDrone subsidiary is preparing the IQ Quad land survey drone for Blue UAS certification, a step that could open U.S. defense and government procurement channels. The drone is now in flight testing and payload integration as the company pursues the DoD-backed pathway for NDAA-compliant drones. Why it matters: - Blue UAS certification is a key gate for drone makers seeking U.S. defense and federal procurement opportunities. - ZenaTech said certification could position the IQ Quad for buyers that need secure geospatial mapping, land surveying and other mission-critical data tools. - The move could broaden ZenaTech’s reach across defense, infrastructure and government workflows. What happened: - ZenaTech said its U.S. subsidiary, ZenaDrone, is preparing to start the Blue UAS certification application for the IQ Quad drone. - The company said the IQ Quad is designed for fast and accurate land surveys and geospatial mapping. - ZenaTech said the drone is undergoing flight performance testing, payload sensor integration testing and final bill of material documentation. - The company said it is preparing to submit the application under the Green-to-Blue UAS pathway framework. The details: - ZenaTech said Blue UAS certification, conferred by the U.S. Department of Defense, is the more important of the two pathways and opens broader defense use opportunities. - CEO Shaun Passley said Blue UAS certification would create opportunities to sell the IQ Quad to organizations including the Army Corps of Engineers, the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Bureau of Land Management. - ZenaTech said federal agencies are modernizing critical infrastructure and engineering operations, which it sees as a fit for the drone’s data collection capabilities. - The IQ Quad is described as a compact multi-mission quadcopter for rapid deployment and precision geospatial data collection. - Its planned use cases include advanced mapping, land surveying, terrain modeling, infrastructure inspection, construction planning and environmental monitoring. - ZenaTech said the platform uses a modular, interchangeable payload architecture for high-resolution imaging, AI-assisted autonomy and secure communications for field operations. - ZenaDrone said it has three drone platforms in a multi-month evaluation process for Green-to-Blue UAS certification. - ZenaDrone said the certification review checks cybersecurity controls and supply-chain documentation and requires domestic or cleared suppliers. - Blue UAS certification establishes NDAA compliance and can clear a “made in America” drone maker for direct procurement by U.S. defense agencies, federal departments and allied government buyers. - ZenaTech said the company is a B2i Digital Featured Company. More information is available in the company’s profile . Between the lines: - The announcement signals a push to turn a survey drone into a defense-adjacent procurement candidate, not just a commercial mapping tool. - ZenaTech is tying the IQ Quad to broader federal needs such as terrain modeling, base mapping, utility management, environmental monitoring and disaster response. - The company is also trying to differentiate through NDAA compliance, secure communications and supply-chain documentation, which are central to defense buying decisions. What’s next: - ZenaDrone is expected to submit the Blue UAS application after completing testing and documentation. - If approved, the IQ Quad could be eligible for direct procurement by U.S. defense and government buyers. - ZenaTech said the certification would help expand its portfolio of trusted drone systems for government and defense customers. The bottom line: - ZenaTech is trying to convert the IQ Quad from a mapping drone into a certified defense procurement platform.