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China’s DJI Still Selling Drones to Russian Military
Last April, the world’s largest consumer drone manufacturer DJI, announced that it was halting operations in Russia and Ukraine.
Now, after nearly a year, DJI’s consumer videography drones have been increasingly weaponized by both sides, although Ukraine has implemented them into their command and control much more effectively.
Despite DJI’s export ban to the war-torn region, a Wall Street Journal investigation revealed that the company’s drones continue surreptitiously flowing to Russian military units with the help of small firms in China, the Middle East, and Europe.
When DJI initially halted sales to Ukraine and Russia last year, they did so under the auspices of not wanting their drones used as tools of war.
Still, state backers of Kyiv, like the United States, continued to procure DJI drones through resellers and provide them to Ukraine.
The same thing is happening on the Russian side, although much more quietly.
DJI claims that they cannot control what people do with their drones once people purchase from one of their many resellers.
But that’s not entirely true…
Manufacturers have a significant amount of control over who can become a dealer or reseller of their product…
