Company validates performance in real-world marine conditions as it prepares a faster Version 2 platform, targeting a global commercial and defense underwater drone market expected to exceed $16 billion USD by 2034

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ZenaTech, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZENA) (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology solution provider specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS, and Quantum Computing solutions, announces that its ZenaDrone subsidiary has moved the IQ Aqua autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) into an active U.S. field testing program. Testing is being conducted in the Pensacola, Florida area near the Company’s Drone as a Service office location, marking a key milestone since ZenaTech first unveiled the IQ Aqua prototype in March 2026. The testing program consists of putting the IQ Aqua drone through both controlled aquatic environments and natural, open water bodies, allowing the engineering team to validate the drone’s stability, maneuverability, sensors and autonomous navigation across a range of real-world operating conditions ahead of broader testing and next version deployment.

“Moving from prototype to structured field testing in a matter of weeks demonstrates the speed at which our team is executing on the IQ Aqua program,” said Shaun Passley, Ph.D., ZenaTech CEO. “Underwater mine detection is one of the most pressing gaps in modern maritime warfare as mines are inexpensive to deploy and dangerous and costly to clear using traditional manned methods, and militaries around the world are actively looking for autonomous alternatives. That urgency translates into real demand, and we believe IQ Aqua positions us to capture a meaningful share of an underwater drone market that is expected to grow to over $16 billion over the next decade. Every test run mission in Pensacola gets us closer to giving global defense forces a platform to fill a need in one of the fastest-growing segments in defense technology.”

The IQ Aqua is designed to extend ZenaDrone’s IQ series family of autonomous air, land, and water-surface drones into underwater operations, with a primary focus on defense applications, including undersea mine detection and countermeasure support, covert underwater intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and port and harbor threat detection. The platform is also being developed for commercial use, including autonomous inspection of energy pipelines, bridges, and other maritime infrastructure, offering an alternative to costly and higher-risk diver or manned-vessel deployments.

In parallel with the Pensacola testing program, ZenaDrone is advancing development of the IQ Aqua Version 2, with the team currently ordering components and preparing for assembly at ZenaDrone’s manufacturing facility in the United Arab Emirates, with completion targeted in the coming weeks. Version 2 is being engineered to be faster than the current prototype, incorporating a different propulsion system intended to improve speed and operational range designed for future defense and commercial deployments.

The global underwater drone market is projected to exceed $16 billion USD by 2034, according to Global Market Insights, with defense and security applications representing the fastest-growing segment of that market. The Company plans to target U.S. defense customers, NATO partners, and U.S. allied Gulf nations as well as commercial customers. ZenaTech and will provide additional updates as new developmental and testing milestones are achieved.

ZenaTech, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZENA) (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) is a technology company that specializes in AI autonomy drone platforms to transform industrial, government, and defense sectors. Its subsidiaries include drone manufacturing through ZenaDrone, a global Drone as a Service (DaaS) business, and a separate enterprise SaaS division of software brands. The Company is executing an acquisition-led DaaS roll-up strategy to digitize and automate legacy service industries like land surveys and inspections, driving drone-based scalable, recurring revenue growth. With an operating footprint spanning North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, ZenaTech is advancing AI drones for agriculture and logistics, as well as ISR, cargo, and counter-UAS applications for U.S. defense and NATO allies. The company is investing in next-generation technologies, including drone swarms, quantum computing, and advanced AI autonomy to capture long-term opportunities in key markets through its R&D initiatives.