DJI Sues the US DoD, Claiming Opposition to Products Being Used for Military Purposes

On October 18, 2024, Eastern Time in the United States, DJI filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense for mistakenly being included in the CMC sanctions list. DJI stated that the company has always been committed to promoting the application and innovation of civilian drone products and opposes their use for military purposes.

The CMC list refers to the Chinese Military Companies List, which is a list established by the U.S. Department of Defense under Section 1260H of the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act to identify Chinese military companies operating directly or indirectly in the United States. In January 2024, the U.S. Department of Defense updated the CMC list, which includes companies such as DJI and AMEC.

DJI has never designed or manufactured products and equipment for military purposes, according to DJI. There were rumors last year that the Indian military had placed a huge order with DJI, but DJI refused citing ‘too much risk in the Indian market.’ DJI denied these rumors and stated that the company will not export drones for military use. In 2022, DJI also mentioned that they are conducting compliance risk reviews of their global business operations and have temporarily suspended all commercial activities in Russia and Ukraine during the review.

In the United States, in 2020, DJI was added to the Entity List by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Last year there were rumors that DJI was withdrawing from the U.S. market, which DJI denied. Recently, it was reported that DJI notified distributors about restrictions imposed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on some drones entering the U.S. market. In response, DJI stated that there is no reason for customs to detain their drones and they are providing documentation to prove compliance with UFPLA regulations.

Before filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense this August, AMEC also formally submitted a complaint to a U.S court challenging its inclusion on CMC list decision made by US DoD . Chairman & CEO Yin Zhiyao expressed confidence in receiving a fair ruling from court removing AMEC from CMC list . Earlier this year , LiDAR manufacturer Hesai Technology sued US DoD after being listed as “Chinese Military-Linked Companies” , subsequently Hesai Technology was removed from relevant lists.

SEE ALSO: Lidar Manufacturer Hesai Technology Decides to Sue US Department of Defense