“DJI is not a military company”:Drone maker speaks out after partial win in US courts – it's but not the case that tries to get new drones on US shelves

DJI, the drone manufacturer, has been contesting the US Department of Defense's classification of itself as a Chinese military company since late 2022. Recently, the drone maker received a partial victory in the US Court of Appeals with a decision that partially reverses a lower court's ruling. The US Court of Appeals affirmed some of the lower court's decision regarding DJI's placement on the Department of Defense blacklist.

Although the court did not concur with DJI's claims regarding a violation of due process and selective enforcement, it did grant some relief on the matter of whether DJI contributes to the Chinese defense industrial base. The decision, however, remains inconclusive as the earlier case did not consider classified documents, instead relying on an unclassified report with redactions in a specific section.

The lack of publicly stated rationale for DJI's contribution to the Chinese defense industrial base, as stated by the court, indicates uncertainty in the matter. Despite the partial win, DJI expressed satisfaction with the decision, emphasizing its stance that it is not a military company. The drone manufacturer has consistently denounced the use of its products in combat and taken actions to prevent such usage.

DJI remains committed to responsible development of civilian technologies and looks forward to further clarification in the ongoing case. Additionally, DJI is currently involved in a legal battle against the Federal Communications Commission's restrictions that hinder new DJI products from obtaining necessary approval for sale in the US.