On September 26, 2025, the U.S. District Courtroom for the District of Columbia issued a call on the Division of Protection’s (DoD) designation of DJI as a “Chinese language Army Firm.” Whereas the Courtroom allowed DoD’s designation to face, DJI has printed an expanded assertion emphasizing that the Courtroom’s findings affirm its longstanding place that the corporate shouldn’t be managed by the Chinese language authorities and has no army ties.
DJI’s official assertion highlights a number of factors within the Courtroom’s opinion that the corporate views as important clarifications.
Courtroom Rejected Most Allegations
Based on DJI, the Courtroom rejected nearly all of DoD’s claims. These included allegations that DJI is owned or managed by the Chinese language Communist Social gathering, affiliated with China’s Ministry of Trade and Info Expertise, or linked to a military-civil fusion enterprise zone. DJI maintains that these findings assist its constant assertion of independence from authorities or army management.
Restricted Findings Make clear Twin-Use Expertise
The Courtroom upheld simply two of DoD’s factors. The primary involved DJI’s recognition as a Nationwide Enterprise Expertise Middle (NETC). DJI notes that this recognition can also be granted to corporations in industries comparable to meals, attire, and automotive, and doesn’t point out a army connection.
The second level addressed the dual-use potential of DJI know-how. The Courtroom agreed with DoD’s place that DJI drones, like many industrial applied sciences, might be utilized in each civilian and army contexts. Nonetheless, DJI emphasised that the Courtroom didn’t discover proof of misuse by the Chinese language army. The corporate reiterated that it has by no means manufactured army gear, marketed drones for fight, or inspired army use of its merchandise. DJI has publicly denounced such use and has carried out insurance policies designed to forestall it.
Ongoing Tensions With U.S. Authorities
The ruling is the most recent problem within the ongoing disputes between DJI and the U.S. authorities, which has taken a number of steps to limit the Chinese language producer’s entry to the U.S. market.
DJI has not launched two of its latest plane — the DJI Mavic 4 Professional and the DJI Mini 5 Professional — in america. Customers additionally report rising problem in acquiring DJI drones and equipment by conventional retail channels. Trade analysts hyperlink this shortage to each coverage pressures and provide chain disruptions, as U.S. officers proceed to maneuver ahead with laws, tariffs, and procurement restrictions designed to restrict reliance on Chinese language-made drones.
DJI’s Place Transferring Ahead
“DJI stays devoted to advancing drone know-how that advantages society,” the corporate mentioned in its newsroom assertion. It added that it’s reviewing choices for responding to the ruling, whereas persevering with to concentrate on supporting creators, companies, and public security organizations with accessible know-how.
The Courtroom’s determination means DJI will stay on the Pentagon’s listing of “Chinese language Army Firms,” a improvement that carries implications for presidency and defense-related procurement. As DRONELIFE reported earlier this week, inclusion on the listing could complicate federal contracting and will affect legislative and coverage debates about drone provide chains in america.
For now, DJI maintains that the Courtroom’s findings reinforce its place: the corporate shouldn’t be affiliated with the Chinese language authorities or army.
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, an expert drone companies market, and a fascinated observer of the rising drone trade and the regulatory atmosphere for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles targeted on the industrial drone house and is a world speaker and acknowledged determine within the trade. Miriam has a level from the College of Chicago and over 20 years of expertise in excessive tech gross sales and advertising for brand spanking new applied sciences.
For drone trade consulting or writing, E mail Miriam.
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