DJI Unveils Matrice 5T Enterprise Drone With Thermal Imaging and AI
Chinese drone maker DJI unveiled the compact Matrice 5T enterprise drone on 5 November, featuring higher-resolution thermal imaging, obstacle detection and up to 59 minutes of flight. Its availability in the United States remains unconfirmed.
Chinese drone manufacturer DJI announced a new compact enterprise drone, the Matrice 5T, on 5 November 2026. It is aimed at public safety agencies, infrastructure inspection and surveying. A key question for the market is whether it can be legally sold in the United States, which has not been confirmed.
The aircraft can fly for up to 59 minutes. It has an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance and operates in temperatures from -20°C to 50°C. DJI plans a webinar to introduce the product.
Thermal camera and night vision
The Matrice 5T has a thermal camera with native 1280 × 1024 resolution, four times the pixel count of standard 640 × 512 sensors. An ultra-high-resolution mode raises thermal images to 2560 × 2048. A wide-angle camera with a 1/0.98-inch sensor and f/1.8 aperture works in low light; DJI says AI enhancement supports full-color imaging down to 0.01 lux. The drone also carries a 50 MP camera with 3× optical zoom and a telephoto camera with 11× optical and 176× hybrid zoom.
Obstacle detection and communications
The drone uses LiDAR, millimeter-wave radar and omnidirectional vision sensors. According to DJI, its LiDAR can detect thin obstacles such as power lines at up to 32 meters at night. The O4 Enterprise Enhanced video transmission system has a maximum range of 40 kilometers under specified conditions.
AI and automation
Onboard AI models recognize more than 20 target types, including vehicles and vessels. Through DJI FlightHub 2, operators can search for targets using text or image prompts and build automated patrol routes. The drone can take off from moving vessels and land on marked ship decks.
Surveying
Paired with DJI Terra, it supports centimeter-level accuracy without ground control points under specified conditions. The remote controller can process 200 images in eight minutes.
U.S. situation
The Matrice 5T is offered through authorized enterprise dealers. In December 2025, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) added foreign-produced drones and components to its Covered List, which generally blocks new equipment authorizations. The Matrice 5T is not on the FCC's published exemption list, and its authorization status is unconfirmed.