Russian use of AeroScope may drive Ukraine from DJI drones

DJI’s status as by far the biggest seller of consumer and enterprise drones on the planet means its UAVs are logically flown most by Ukraine pilots battling Russian invaders. But might that domination change if those operators turn to what they consider safer gear?

The idea arose from a report broadcast last week by CNN, when correspondent Erin Burnett spent time with a Ukraine unit using DJI drones in its work to find, track, and assist strikes on Russian forces. Although very effective in that effort, the pilot of the eight-person team Volodymyr Demchenko said, deployment of the company’s UAVs leaves operators open to counterstrike by Russian troops using DJI’s AeroScope drone detection platform to pinpoint location.