DJI in turn a victim of the war in Ukraine?

• The Chinese manufacturer of recreational drones DJI has just discreetly removed the AeroScope detection system from its catalog
• Drones equipped with the technology are accused of helping the Russian military target Ukrainian drone pilots
• DJI seems to refuse for the moment the slightest comment even if it means maintaining the vagueness on the arrival of an improved version of the system

The thing has not been the subject of any official announcement, and yet the AeroScope system has just been quietly withdrawn from sale everywhere in the world. This system is a set of tools allowing to quickly identify the communication links with the drones, and to establish their flight plan, to know the status of the device, before responding, for example by shooting at the drone.

The DJI system does not only detect the brand’s drones. The firm speaks indeed “of the majority of drones” available. Which makes it, in addition to its integration capabilities extended to existing infrastructures, the system of choice for some governments to fight against drones, whether around sensitive sites, restricted areas, etc., but also to detect military drones ( and civilians) in theaters of war.

DJI no longer supplies its detection system to Russia (or anyone else)

In Ukraine, in particular, the AeroScope system has reportedly been used extensively by the Russian military to target Ukrainian drone pilots. It is not yet fully known whether this is the reason for the disappearance of the system from sale – both on the official site and on that of retailers. Rumors also evoked the arrival of a new version.

However, according to Chinese law, DJI like many other tech companies have national security implications – and as such have (suspected close) ties with the Chinese government. In this case, last February, an American report once again denounced the links between DJI and the Chinese Communist Party. But this time around, those links may be, at least temporarily, good news.

Indeed, China knows that it could be subject to heavy sanctions if it started supplying arms, ammunition and intelligence equipment like AeroScope to the Russian army. However, AeroScope has already been used by the latter in Ukraine. And if DJI does not say anything official about the reasons for the production stoppage, it is difficult not to make cause and effect links with the Chinese government’s balancing act around the war in Ukraine.

On the one hand, Beijing is indeed strengthening its ties of cooperation with Russia, and publicly displays some support. On the other hand, China seems to avoid crossing certain lines, presumably because of its much greater economic ties with the West, and the turn of events.

The sudden cessation of production of this system, which is nevertheless a cornerstone of the supervision of leisure drones by States around the world, is bound to raise some questions. But given the context, both DJI and the Chinese government have an interest in maintaining a certain vagueness on these questions… Pending new developments.