VA-based Zenith AeroTech is ensuring that it’s tethered heavy lift solutions meet National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) parameters and can be produced more quickly to meet growing demand.  The company announces a partnership with VIRTEX Enterprises to develop Zenith AeroTech drones manufactured in the U.S.

by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby

Last month, Zenith AeroTech, a leading developer of heavy-lift tethered aerial vehicles (TAVs), announced a partnership with electronics manufacturing service provider VIRTEX Enterprises (“VIRTEX”). The partnership was formed in order to meet a rise in demand for TAVs, while also ensuring that the products are delivered in shorter time frames and are NDAA compliant.

“This new partnership allows our two companies to leverage their individual areas of expertise,” said Zenith AeroTech’s chairman, Kutlay Kaya. “Zenith brings years of custom-made TAV and free-flight drone design and manufacturing experience, while VIRTEX—an AS 9100 accredited organization—contributes its sought-after advanced electronics design, manufacturing, and testing capabilities.”

Zenith AeroTech offers its customers the choice of three seperate, highly customizable TAV platforms with its Hexa, Quad 8, and Quadro models. Zenith’s Ground Power-Tether Management System enables these TAVs to remain airborne for days at a time, providing true persistent surveillance.

VIRTEX provides aerospace, military, and commercial markets with engineering services, design, system level integration, PCBA and full life cycle management services, each delivered in vertically integrated solutions with a goal of long-term customer partnerships.

“VIRTEX’s U.S.-based manufacturing capability and its specialized aerospace experience will ensure that Zenith products are all American-made and fully NDAA compliant, unlike other drone suppliers,” Kaya stated. “VIRTEX will also allow Zenith to scale up production to meet larger volume orders in a shorter time frame.”

Zenith will assist VIRTEX with its entry into the emerging, technically sophisticated small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) market, and putting VIRTEX in touch with new defense and law enforcement customers.

“The vertical capabilities of our two companies include full system design, manufacture and integrated test,” said Executive VP of VIRTEX Dana Pittman. “We offer leading-edge custom solutions that support multiple channels, including defense. With this partnership, VIRTEX and Zenith will build complex systems to address diverse and complex problem sets.”

Read more about Zenith AeroTech, their U.S.-based manufacturing, and counter UAS partnership with DroneShield.

Ian attended Dominican University of California, where he received a BA in English in 2019. With a lifelong passion for writing and storytelling and a keen interest in technology, he is now contributing to DroneLife as a staff writer.