DJI Shell Company Jovistar Signals Mini 5 Pro Clone for U.S. Market
FCC filings reveal Jovistar Inc., a newly identified, suspected DJI shell company, has submitted documents for an unmanned aircraft with specifications closely matching the DJI Mini 5 Pro, complete with LiDAR capability that could circumvent ongoing U.S. import restrictions.
READ MORE: DJI FACES DECEMBER BAN DEADLINE AS POLITICAL PRESSURE SPAWNS PROXY COMPANY NETWORK
Jovistar’s business information seems to perfectly match the address information and name in the FCC filings. The company was apparently already created in February of this year, indicating that this is in fact, part of a planned strategy by DJI.
This discovery comes just one day after DroneXL exposed DJI’s expanding network of shell companies, highlighting how the Chinese drone giant is adapting to U.S. political pressure. The timing suggests a coordinated strategy to maintain market presence despite U.S. Customs and Border Protection restricting DJI shipments since October 2024 under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.
Battery Specifications Point to DJI Mini 5 Pro Clone
The FCC filing for model FKAWZJO shows critical specifications that closely match DJI’s newest consumer drone:
- Battery: 7.3Vdc, 2560mAh
- DJI Mini 5 Pro Standard Battery: 7.0V, 2788mAh
- Class 1 Consumer Laser Product designation indicating LiDAR integration
These specifications exclude larger DJI models like the Air 3S (14.6V, 4276mAh) and Mavic 4 Pro (14.32V, 6654mAh), which require significantly higher voltage and capacity batteries. The voltage and capacity alignment strongly suggests Jovistar’s drone is a Mini-series aircraft with LiDAR capability.
LiDAR Confirms Advanced Features
The “Class 1 Consumer Laser Product” classification is standard for LiDAR-equipped devices, indicating eye-safe laser systems commonly used in drone obstacle avoidance. Among current DJI drones, only three models feature LiDAR: the Mini 5 Pro, Air 3S, and Mavic 4 Pro. The battery specifications eliminate the larger models, leaving the Mini 5 Pro as the only viable match.
Security researcher Konrad Iturbe notified DroneXL today about this latest Jovistar FCC filing, matching DJI’s distinctive OcuSync radio frequencies. Iturbe has proven invaluable in identifying DJI’s expanding network of subsidiary companies attempting to maintain U.S. market access.
DJI’s Strategic Response to Import Crisis
DJI’s shell company strategy has intensified as the company faces its most severe U.S. market challenges. With all DJI models listed as “sold out” on the official U.S. store and major retailers like Best Buy and Amazon reporting critically low inventory, alternative distribution channels have become essential.
The Mini series represents DJI’s most successful consumer product line globally, making it a logical choice for shell company distribution. Since DJI cannot officially launch the Mini 5 Pro in America due to customs uncertainty, a Jovistar-branded clone would fill this market gap while technically avoiding direct DJI import restrictions.
This approach mirrors DJI’s existing partnerships with Cogito Tech and Skyrover for “Specta” and “X1” Mini 4 Pro clone models. The pattern suggests a systematic effort to maintain U.S. market presence through proxy companies, something that DJI will not confirm or deny.
Regulatory Timing Pressure
The urgency behind shell company creation stems from looming regulatory deadlines. The FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act mandates a security review of DJI products by December 23, 2025. If incomplete, DJI will automatically join the FCC’s “Covered List,” effectively banning new drone sales by restricting spectrum access.
Additionally, the Commerce Department continues evaluating broader restrictions on Chinese drone components, while Congress reviews the Countering CCP Drones Act. These converging pressures create a narrow window for establishing alternative distribution networks.
DroneXL’s Take
Jovistar’s emergence seems to represent DJI’s latest shell company operation yet, targeting the lucrative consumer Mini series market with advanced LiDAR technology. The precise battery specification matching and laser product classification suggest this isn’t just rebranding—it’s a carefully engineered workaround to regulatory restrictions.
The bigger question is whether U.S. authorities will recognize and act on these shell company patterns before they become entrenched. With DJI controlling over 70% of the global drone market, these proxy operations could fundamentally reshape how Chinese technology enters American markets.
What concerns should drone operators have about purchasing through shell companies versus direct manufacturers? Share your thoughts on this evolving regulatory chess game in the comments below.
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Haye Kesteloo
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This all started because SKIDIO wanted to eliminate DJI from the U.S. market; Skidio’s drones were inferior to DJI’s in every measureable fashion. Instead of developing a superior drone, he chose to nefariously team up with buddies in congress, and push legislation against DJI, under a false narrative. This gave Skidio 10’s of millions in government contracts, selling a drone at triple the cost of DJI, that has failed to satisfy the .government and .mil end users, and leaving the consumer industry barren of quality drones.
DZJI bent over backwards to conform, and were still denied because there was only one estate that the powers that be would accept.
I don’t blame DJI one bit for their new tactic; they were unfairly eliminated from the consumer market. It only makes sense that they would create shell companies to sell their drones under a different name, because thats what I would do, given the cards they were delt.
How come we just don’t take the dji platform And reverse engineer to make it 30% different, and so it is a United States built product.I mean it wouldn’t take much 41 of their team members just to call over here to the united states after they get their citizenship or their Visa pass and perform a manufacturing process over here in the united states Making it product to the u s a?
Or…. Crazy thought here… Instead of trying to steal their tech, how about we attempt to reward their innovations and encourage future ones by entering into some sort of arrangement in which we exchange an appropriate amount of money per unit of it?
Because a DJI clone made in USA would cost $6000 instead of $900.
My company purchased four Skydio 2+ so called enterprise drone. I can’t believe Skydio actually sold this POS to my company. 12K each. This drone has a terrible camera and 18 flight time and it’s louder then a school bus.
DroneXL, calm down on outing DJI and let us navigate this fascist BS in peace. Who’s side are you on anyway because right now you sound like a government Skydio shill.
DroneXL is a Skydio shill. That’s a first! lol
Can i fly a skydio using my Chinese made Iphone that collects information? Lets just go to what is really happening. Skydio lobbying/influencing (paying?)politicians to give them a market with no competition for their overpriced junk
Drone pilot 2020 ** really don’t care if it’s dji ,skydio etc. if it do the job I need it to do plus the power, toughness,with a safe flight it’s all good with me
Sidelining competition never drove the terminally mediocre to greater heights, no pun intended. I agree that innovation should be rewarded. Perhaps a compromise could be reached, where some QC and final assembly performed in the US could overcome the ‘not made here’ objection while not elevating overall product costs by much. It is well known that luxury handbags with the ‘made in Italy’ label come from China and only zippers or other minor bits are actually applied in Italy This seems to satisfy the EU in terms of country of origin. The States is not the EU, but the rebranding strategy by DJI and all other gyrations and delays by the Gov’t. seem like a colossal waste of everybody’s time. The opaque process that led to this situation and that affects blameless drone operators and the customers who rely on them should be audited for transparency and factual accuracy, and the true motivation of all those involved should be established and made public. Anything else is complete BS.
100% agreed.
This whole thing with skydio wanting to push DJI out of the U.S market is just Skydio being a baby that sells an over priced inferior drone even if they found a way to get rid of DJI nobody is buying their garbage. Besides I thought skydio shut down because they couldn’t compete with DJI. DJI drones are safe to fly I own 3 of them never had an issue.. I think the government needs to stop being such pricks be happy that an excellent product is being sold to the consumer at a good price. They need to stop trying to control every aspect of our lives and let us have our toys.
Been flying DJI since 2017…awesome drones ..the only tech I like made 100 percent chinese. Now its time american companies compete and make a better one. If they cant shut up and sit down. And keep trying. How is iPhone made in China and we can have it here . Why no american company can do same with drones?
Allow dji in usa and make our companies compete by designing here and making it in China like an Iphone?
The way Drone XL is making sure every little possibility of a way to still get DJI quality is broadcasted, maybe they are skydio or having their pockets lined to get DJI out of the US.
Drone news = drone news. Nobody to blame here but DJI themselves. The shell company strategy was a bad idea from the start. Suggesting that DroneXL would make money from a DJI ban or that we’re in bed with Skydio only emphasizes your ignorance, I’m afraid. Have a good one and fly safe.