Canadian ZenaTech plans to open an interceptor drone manufacturing facility in Ukraine and testing centre

Canadian defence tech company ZenaTech intends to establish a testing centre in Ukraine. As the company states, this will allow it to test the Interceptor P-1 UAV and other defence systems under real-world conditions.

In addition to the testing centre, ZenaTech plans to open manufacturing of the Interceptor P-1 in Ukraine. The company states that this will accelerate the supply of interception systems to defence clients worldwide, including in the Middle East.

The company is currently working with lawyers to establish operations in Ukraine and is cooperating with the state to test its products. It is also hiring Ukrainian engineers and manufacturing technicians.

ZenaTech states that the price of the Interceptor P-1 is under $5,000. The single-use drone takes off vertically and uses AI to track and intercept targets. The company has been working with UAVs since 2017 and established a subsidiary, ZenaDrone, for this purpose. Its lineup includes the following multi-rotor aircraft:

• ZenaDrone 1000, used for surveillance and cargo transport;
• IQ Nano, capable of scanning goods in warehouses to facilitate inventory management and mapping indoor spaces;
• IQ Square, designed for infrastructure washing and inspection;
• IQ Quad, used for land surveys.

Also at the prototype stage is the ZenaDrone 2000 interceptor drone, designed for launch from maritime platforms. It is being developed to counter slow-moving aerial threats and drone swarms.

Like the Interceptor P-1, this drone uses artificial intelligence. It also features a petrol engine, enabling flights of three to four hours. A ZenaDrone IQ Glider is being developed for it, from which the interceptor drone can be launched and refuelled.