China presents new DJI FC100 heavy transport drone for high-altitude resupply missions.

On June 30, 2025, the Chinese company DJI released the FlyCart 100 (FC100) during an event in Shenzhen, identifying it as its new flagship civilian cargo drone. The FC100 is developed as a follow-up to the FlyCart 30, which entered the market in August 2023. DJI indicates that the FC100 is designed for use in industrial and emergency logistics, including applications such as emergency response, engineering support, firefighting, maritime transport, and high-altitude infrastructure supply. The drone supports payloads of up to 80 kilograms when operated with a single battery and 65 kilograms when using two batteries, with a maximum takeoff weight of 149.9 kilograms.
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Initial uses of the FC100 have included lifting electrical insulators and lightning rods, transporting construction equipment in mountainous zones, and delivering supplies to isolated areas with limited road access. (Picture source: DJI)

The FC100 uses a coaxial rotor configuration composed of four axes and eight propellers. Each rotor is fitted with a 62-inch carbon fiber propeller and is powered by an upgraded motor linked to a 420A electronic speed controller. The maximum thrust produced per rotor is 82 kilograms. The drone’s unloaded range is 26 kilometers. Its maximum flight altitude is 6,000 meters, while its service ceiling is listed at 1,500 meters. Under operational conditions at 3,000 meters elevation, the FC100 can transport 70 kilograms with one battery or 50 kilograms with two. The drone can be fully charged in nine minutes, while its power system is based on DJI’s DB2160 batteries, which are rated at 41 ampere-hours, support hot swapping, include thermal regulation systems, and are specified for up to 1,500 charging cycles.

The FC100 includes an obstacle avoidance and safety system composed of three elements: a LiDAR sensor with a measurement rate of 300,000 points per second, a millimeter-wave radar, and a five-camera fisheye vision system providing 360-degree coverage. These elements support terrain sensing, low-altitude protection, and intelligent obstacle avoidance for both the drone and the hoisted cargo. Safety systems include a parachute that activates at altitudes above 80 meters. The parachute system is capable of supporting full payload weight, reducing descent velocity below 7 meters per second, and includes autonomous self-diagnostics, visual and audible alerts, an independent power supply, and several redundant triggering mechanisms. According to DJI, these features are designed to mitigate operational failures caused by signal interference, motor damage, or electromagnetic disruption.

Command and control of the FC100 is handled through the RC Plus 2 remote control system, which is equipped with a 7-inch display rated at 1,400 nits and allows operator handoff. DJI's O4 video transmission protocol is built into the system, providing a range of 20 kilometers. Additional communication systems include optional 4G video modules and the D-RTK3 relay station to maintain connectivity in environments with weak signals or obstructions. The FC100 is supported by the DJI Delivery application, which provides delivery guidance, augmented reality displays, and multi-camera viewing. The DJI DeliveryHub allows centralized oversight of fleet status, coordination of loading zones, mission planning, and communication between team members using multiple devices.

Although DJI maintains that the FC100 and its broader product line are developed for non-military applications, heavy-lift hexacopter drones with similar capabilities are being actively adopted by military forces worldwide. These systems are employed in environments that require autonomous resupply, delivery of critical equipment, and operations in locations inaccessible to vehicles or manned aircraft. Countries such as the United States, Russia, and the United Kingdom have already developed or fielded rotary-wing drones capable of carrying between 50 and 200 kilograms over short and medium distances. Some of these systems are also used for aerial deployment of small munitions and tactical equipment. Therefore, features associated with commercial logistics drones like the FC100, such as multi-rotor lift, automated navigation, payload management, and ruggedization, are directly applicable in military logistics and battlefield support, regardless of the original design intent.

The dual-use potential of DJI drones has been particularly visible in Ukraine. Despite DJI’s suspension of sales to both Russia and Ukraine in April 2022, DJI drones, primarily from the Mavic series, have been employed extensively by both sides. Ukrainian forces use them for reconnaissance, artillery spotting, and video recording, while Russian units continue to use modified DJI drones for similar functions. DJI’s AeroScope, a drone detection and telemetry tracking system, became a point of controversy, with Ukrainian officials accusing it of allowing Russian forces to locate drone operators. Although DJI denied that AeroScope was used for military purposes and eventually discontinued the product, concerns persisted. In 2023 and 2024, Ukrainian officials, including President Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Shmyhal, stated that DJI drones remained available to Russian forces while Ukrainian access was becoming increasingly restricted, particularly after new Chinese export controls on high-performance drones took effect in early 2023.

The widespread integration of DJI drones into military operations in Ukraine began on a limited scale during the Donbas conflict but accelerated after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Soldiers on both sides quickly adopted DJI quadcopters, especially the Mavic series, for tactical reconnaissance and artillery guidance. Ukrainian forces issued public calls for civilian donations of drones, and international volunteer groups raised funds to procure DJI platforms. By mid-2023, Ukrainian authorities estimated losses of up to 10,000 drones per month, largely due to jamming and other countermeasures. Government procurement records confirm that over 1.5 million UAVs had been delivered to the Ukrainian Armed Forces by the end of 2024, including large numbers of DJI drones. Contracts included the purchase of over 8,000 Mavic 3E and 3T drones, valued at more than $30 million. These procurement efforts were complemented by local government initiatives and decentralized purchases by military brigades. On the Russian side, similar use and acquisition patterns were observed, with reports citing 100,000 DJI drones obtained over an eight-month period through third-party channels.

In response to limitations in direct access, both Ukraine and Russia established alternate supply routes and domestic drone production programs. Ukrainian defense procurement increasingly shifted to domestic manufacturing, with government incentives supporting startups and established companies to develop local analogues of the DJI Mavic. By 2025, Ukraine reported that 96 percent of its drone acquisition funding was being allocated to national suppliers. At least ten Ukrainian firms had introduced Mavic-like quadcopters, though local producers acknowledged the technical difficulty of replicating DJI's systems. In Russia, military users have similarly relied on third-country procurement through markets in Kazakhstan, China, and the UAE, while efforts to develop local substitutes and expand production of drones such as Iranian-designed Shahed UAVs continue.