ZenaTech Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA) announced that its ZenaDrone subsidiary has developed the IQ Aqua, an autonomous underwater vehicle prototype designed for defense and commercial applications, including underwater mine detection.

The IQ Aqua prototype has demonstrated autonomous navigation and underwater mobility in controlled environments, according to the company's press release. ZenaTech is manufacturing additional prototypes for outdoor underwater field testing in the United States and international locations in the coming months.

"ZenaDrone IQ Aqua is positioned to address one of the most urgent gaps in modern maritime defense: autonomous mine detection," said Shaun Passley, ZenaTech CEO. The current prototype operates with a tethered, battery-powered configuration.

The company is developing a next-generation version intended to be tether-free and GPS-independent for autonomous operation in contested underwater environments. Planned defense applications include mine detection, underwater intelligence and surveillance, and port security.

For commercial use, the IQ Aqua is designed for autonomous inspection of offshore energy pipelines, subsea cables, and maritime infrastructure. ZenaTech identified Gulf Cooperation Council nations as priority commercial markets due to their offshore hydrocarbon assets and port facilities.

The global underwater drone market is projected to reach $16 billion by 2034, according to Global Market Insights cited in the release. ZenaTech targets U.S. defense customers, NATO partners, and Gulf Cooperation Council nations for the IQ Aqua program.

The IQ Aqua extends ZenaDrone's product family, which currently includes air, land, and water surface drone operations. ZenaTech specializes in AI drone solutions, Drone as a Service, enterprise software, and quantum computing solutions.