A federal judge has rejected drone maker DJI’s attempt to be removed from the U.S. Department of Defense’s list of Chinese military companies. U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman ruled Friday that the Pentagon had presented “substantial evidence” showing DJI contributes to “the Chinese defense industrial base.” In particular, the court pointed to the use of modified DJI drones in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. “Whether or not DJI’s policies prohibit military use is irrelevant,” Friedman wrote, adding that DJI’s technology has “substantial theoretical and actual military application.”
While Judge Friedman dismissed some of the DoD’s other justifications, the ruling upholds DJI’s controversial designation, which dates back to 2022. The drone giant has also been placed on restricted lists by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Treasury Department.
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DJI filed the lawsuit last year, arguing that it is “not owned or controlled by the Chinese military” and that its products are designed for consumer and commercial use, not defense. The company also claimed the listing has caused “ongoing financial and reputational harm, including lost business.”
In a statement to Reuters, DJI said it is evaluating its legal options and criticized the ruling as being “based on a single rationale that applies to many companies that have never been listed.”
Beyond this lawsuit, DJI faces growing pressure in the U.S., including the possibility of a nationwide ban on sales starting in December unless security officials determine its drones do not pose a risk to U.S. national security.
