Chinese drone manufacturer, DJI, has quietly discontinued its drone-detecting AeroScope system, which has been accused of assisting Russians in targeting and attacking Ukrainian drone pilots. 

A notice was spotted by UAV Hive, with AeroScope’s product page now displaying a pop-up message stating that the device is no longer in production. However, there is no indication as to whether the existing devices will continue to function.

DJI originally created AeroScope as a “comprehensive drone detection platform” for law enforcement and other government agencies to identify and track drones in real-time, using receiver signals broadcasted by newer DJI drones.

DJI closes the AeroScope system platform

 The platform was to prevent drones from flying in dangerous areas, such as around airport runways. However, in 2017, the US army banned the use of DJI drones over concerns that DJI was transmitting information collected using the devices to the Chinese government.

Last year, the Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, accused DJI of “helping Russia to kill the Ukrainians” by allegedly using AeroScope receivers to locate and attack Ukrainian drone operators with aerial strikes.  DJI has already blocked shipments to Russia and Ukraine over concerns about weaponization.

 The signals broadcasted by DJI drones are not encrypted, despite DJI initially claiming that they were. And other receivers can pick up the signals they emit. DJI subsequently blocked shipments to Russia and Ukraine claiming they are concerned about the weaponization of its products and discontinued the portable version of AeroScope.

Brendan Schulman, the former Vice President of Policy at DJI, believes there are two reasons for the discontinuation of AeroScope. They claim it doesn’t make sense to continue supporting a feature that was created to assist U.S. security, when U.S. security agencies are attacking its’ use. 

Also, the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) new rules of implementation of Remote ID, to detect and track drones in US airspace will go into effect September 16, 2023.

However, the move may suggest that DJI is trying to distance itself from controversy and regain the trust of its customers.