Aircraft & UAVs

DJI Mavic series

Also known as
  • Mavic
  • DJI Mavic
  • DJI Mavic series
  • Mavic series

The DJI Mavic series is a family of Chinese commercial folding quadcopters that became a mass battlefield UAV in Ukraine and has also been documented in Gaza and Myanmar. Although designed for civilian and enterprise imaging, models such as the Mavic 3, Mavic 3E, and Mavic 3T have been used for short-range ISR, artillery correction, situational awareness, target acquisition, thermal observation, and improvised strike roles.

DJI Mavic series, Commercial quadcopter UAV, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: File:DJI Mavic 3.jpg

Role in Conflicts

2021 Myanmar Civil War
Side
State Administration Council and allied forcesPeople's Defense Forces and ethnic armed organizations
Role in conflict
Commercial quadcopter adapted for reconnaissance and strike

ACLED lists DJI Mavic all series among drone types accessible to Myanmar's military and describes resistance and military forces adapting commercial drones for reconnaissance, combat, artillery guidance, and strike roles; the source does not isolate every Mavic-series use to one specific model.

Battlefield Adaptation

The Mavic series reached conflict zones as a commercial camera-drone family, then became useful because troops could buy, move, repair, and train on it faster than purpose-built military UAVs. The same limits remain important: short endurance, radio-link dependence, weather sensitivity, and small payload margins keep Mavics in tactical observation and improvised effects rather than heavy strike roles.

ContextDocumented roleSource-backed limit
UkraineMass commercial quadcopter for reconnaissance, artillery correction, situational awareness, and small munition drops.Sources document both Ukrainian and Russian use, while exact model identification varies across battlefield reporting.
GazaMavic drones reported in Israeli use for reconnaissance and target acquisition.Al Jazeera distinguishes Mavic reconnaissance from heavier DJI Agras bomb-drop incidents.
MyanmarACLED lists DJI Mavic all series in an annex of drones accessible to the military and describes commercial-drone adaptation by both sides.The report gives the Mavic family-level entry rather than a complete model-by-model operator inventory.
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
China
Built by
DJI
Type
Commercial quadcopter UAV
Service note
Commercial Mavic family adapted for wartime battlefield use during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War, 2023 Israel-Hamas War, and 2021 Myanmar Civil War
Designer
DJI
Designed
Mavic Pro announced in 2016; Mavic 3 Enterprise series introduced on 2022-09-27
Unit cost
Commercial off-the-shelf pricing varies by model and kit
Produced
Mavic family in serial commercial production
Number built
Commercial production; exact total not publicly reported

Specifications

Configuration
Foldable battery-powered quadcopter UAV
Representative folded dimensions
DJI Mavic 3E/3T/3TA: 221 x 96.3 x 90.3 mm without propellers
Representative weight
DJI Mavic 3E: 915 g; DJI Mavic 3T/3TA: 920 g
Maximum takeoff weight
1050 g for DJI Mavic 3E/3T/3TA
Endurance
Up to 45 minutes in no-wind conditions for Mavic 3 Enterprise variants with the Mavic 3 Series Intelligent Flight Battery
Maximum flight distance
Up to 32 km for Mavic 3 Enterprise variants with the Mavic 3 Series Intelligent Flight Battery
Maximum takeoff altitude
6000 m without payload for Mavic 3 Enterprise variants
Sensors
Mavic 3E wide camera uses a 4/3 CMOS 20 MP sensor; Mavic 3T/3TA use a 48 MP wide camera and thermal imaging variants
Thermal imager
Mavic 3T/3TA: uncooled VOx microbolometer, 640 x 512 video at 30 Hz
Navigation
GPS, Galileo, BeiDou, and GLONASS support, with GLONASS tied to RTK module use on the listed Enterprise variants
Armament
Unarmed commercial UAV; wartime examples have been modified for improvised munition delivery or one-way attack effects
Wartime payload reference
ACLED's Myanmar annex lists DJI Mavic all series with a 100 g payload and strike purpose; battlefield payloads vary by model, modification, battery, and munition
Variants

Mavic is a broad commercial folding-drone family. Conflict reporting often identifies the Mavic 3 generation or Enterprise/Thermal variants when the exact model can be seen or procured.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Mavic ProOriginal foldable consumer Mavic

DJI announced the first Mavic Pro in 2016 as a compact folding personal drone with a stabilized 4K camera, OcuSync control link, and a stated 27-minute flight time.

Sources: DJI Mavic Pro Announcement

Mavic 2 Pro / Mavic 2 ZoomSecond-generation imaging variants

DJI introduced the Mavic 2 Pro with a Hasselblad-branded 1-inch-sensor camera and the Mavic 2 Zoom with optical zoom, both using the same folding Mavic 2 airframe family.

Sources: DJI Mavic 2 Announcement

Mavic 3 / Mavic 3 CineProsumer imaging airframe

DJI support specifications list the Mavic 3 at 895 g with a controlled-test maximum flight time of 46 minutes; the Cine version adds higher-end recording and storage features.

Sources: DJI Mavic 3 Support Specs

Mavic 3EEnterprise mapping and survey variant

DJI's Enterprise announcement describes the Mavic 3E as a compact professional model with a 20 MP 4/3 CMOS wide camera, mechanical shutter, 56x hybrid zoom, RTK support, and 45-minute class endurance.

Sources: DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise Announcement, Specs - DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise

Mavic 3TEnterprise thermal-imaging variant

DJI describes the Mavic 3T as pairing the Mavic 3E tele camera with a 48 MP wide camera and a 640 x 512 thermal imager for night, inspection, and search-and-rescue applications.

Sources: DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise Announcement, Specs - DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise

Mavic 3TA / Mavic 3T AdvancedUpdated thermal variant

DJI's current Enterprise specifications list the Mavic 3TA alongside the 3E and 3T, including an 8 micrometer thermal pixel pitch and narrower thermal field of view than the Mavic 3T.

Sources: Specs - DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise

Carried Munitions

Open-source reporting documents a Mavic-series drone prepared to carry a K-51 gas grenade for a planned drop.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
K-51 gas grenade, CS gas grenade, MunitionsK-51 gas grenadeGas grenade

Gagadget reports that a DJI Mavic-series drone, judged from photos to be a Mavic 3, was carrying a K-51 gas grenade for a planned drop.

Sources: Ukrainian border guards seize Russian DJI Mavic 3 quadcopter with K-51 gas grenade for the first time

Drone-dropped fragmentation grenade, Improvised grenade-drop tactic using a commercial UAV, Aircraft & UAVsDrone-dropped fragmentation grenadeFragmentation grenade

TPR reported that Ukrainian forces attached grenades to a DJI Mavic 3 in Bakhmut and said DJI drones can be modified to carry a grenade or other small explosive.

Sources: A Chinese drone for hobbyists plays a crucial role in the Russia-Ukraine war

F1 hand grenade, Defensive anti-personnel fragmentation hand grenade, Infantry WeaponsF1 hand grenadeHand grenade

DroneXL reports that a DJI Mavic 3 dropped an F1 hand grenade on Russian troops under a bridge in Ukraine.

Sources: Mavic 3 drops grenade with deadly accuracy

Timeline

DJI Mavic series Key Events

  1. DJI announces the first Mavic Pro

    DJI introduced the folding Mavic Pro as a compact personal camera drone, establishing the portable airframe family later adapted in wartime.

    Sources: DJI Mavic Pro Announcement

  2. DJI suspends business activity in Russia and Ukraine

    DJI announced a temporary suspension of business activities in Russia and Ukraine while reviewing sales-compliance requirements during the full-scale war.

    Sources: DJI Sales Compliance Statement

  3. Mavic 3 Enterprise series introduced

    DJI introduced the Mavic 3E and Mavic 3T Enterprise variants, adding the mapping, zoom, RTK, and thermal-imaging configurations frequently seen in later wartime procurement and use reporting.

    Sources: DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise Announcement

  4. Ukraine contracts thousands of Mavic 3E and Mavic 3T drones

    Ukraine's Ministry of Defence said its procurement agency had contracted 8,200 DJI Mavic sets, including 7,200 Mavic 3E and 1,000 Mavic 3T drones.

    Sources: Ukraine MoD Mavic Procurement

  5. Mavic use reported in Gaza

    Al Jazeera's Sanad investigation reported Israeli use of DJI Mavic drones across Gaza for reconnaissance and target acquisition.

    Sources: Israel Retrofitting DJI Commercial Drones to Bomb and Surveil Gaza

  6. ACLED lists DJI Mavic all series in Myanmar drone warfare

    ACLED's Myanmar drone-warfare report listed DJI Mavic all series among drone types accessible to Myanmar's military and described commercial drones adapted by both resistance and military forces.

    Sources: ACLED Myanmar Drone Warfare

Media

DJI Mavic series Videos

Related Weapon Systems
Chinese commercial UAVs, Commercial multirotor UAV family, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsChinese commercial UAVsCommercial multirotor UAV familyChinese commercial UAVs are civilian quadcopter, hexacopter, and agricultural-drone families from Chinese manufacturers such as DJI and Autel that have been adapted for wartime reconnaissance and improvised strike missions. In the 2021 Myanmar Civil War, Reuters, ACLED, Fulcrum, and other reporting document resistance forces and later junta units using Chinese-made commercial drones for observation, target spotting, and grenade or bomb drops.
DJI Matrice 300 RTK, Commercial quadcopter UAV, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsDJI Matrice 300 RTKCommercial quadcopter UAVThe DJI Matrice 300 RTK is a Chinese enterprise quadcopter built for inspection, mapping, public-safety, and sensor-heavy professional missions rather than military production. Its long-endurance airframe, RTK positioning, multi-gimbal payload options, and Zenmuse H20-series sensor compatibility made it useful as an off-the-shelf reconnaissance and observation UAV in wartime, with Ukrainian donor programs documenting Matrice 300 RTK transfers for front-line units during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.
Armed commercial quadcopter drone, Weaponized commercial quadcopter UAV, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsArmed commercial quadcopter droneWeaponized commercial quadcopter UAVArmed commercial quadcopter drones are civilian off-the-shelf multirotor UAVs adapted for battlefield surveillance, target observation, propaganda filming, and short-range explosive delivery. In the Lake Chad basin, reporting links ISWAP and Boko Haram-linked forces to a late-2024 shift from ISR and propaganda drone use toward armed quadcopter attacks carrying locally made or locally fabricated grenades against Nigerian military positions in Borno and Yobe.
DJI Matrice 600 weaponized quadcopter, Commercial hexacopter UAV adapted for munition drops, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsDJI Matrice 600 weaponized quadcopterCommercial hexacopter UAV adapted for munition dropsThe DJI Matrice 600 is a six-rotor commercial UAV platform designed for aerial imaging, payload carriage, and industrial work, with DJI listing a 6 kg maximum payload and retractable landing gear. Conflict reporting shows the same heavy-lift commercial airframe adapted by non-state armed groups for improvised munition drops, including PKK-linked RPG-projectile carriage and Hamas use against Israeli border surveillance towers on 7 October 2023.
Improvised drones, Improvised military drone class, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsImprovised dronesImprovised military drone classImprovised drones are locally modified or field-assembled uncrewed aerial systems built from commercial quadcopters, FPV airframes, agricultural-drone parts, and workshop-made payload fittings. The record tracks a distributed weapon class rather than one factory model: Islamic State, Ukrainian and Russian forces, Hamas, Israeli units in Gaza, and Myanmar armed actors all adapted small UAVs for reconnaissance, bomb drops, assault support, and low-cost strike roles.

Sources

DJI Mavic Pro AnnouncementPublisher: DJI / PR Newswire | Note: Supports the 2016 Mavic Pro introduction, folding airframe background, camera, control-link, and flight-time claims. | Accessed: 2026-06-30DJI Mavic 2 AnnouncementPublisher: DJI | Note: Supports the Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 2 Zoom variant distinction and camera configurations. | Accessed: 2026-06-30DJI Mavic 3 Support SpecsPublisher: DJI | Note: Supports representative Mavic 3 baseline specifications, including weight and maximum flight time. | Accessed: 2026-06-30DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise AnnouncementPublisher: DJI | Note: Supports the Mavic 3E and Mavic 3T Enterprise variant introduction, professional-role framing, RTK, camera, zoom, and thermal-imaging distinctions. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Specs - DJI Mavic 3 EnterprisePublisher: DJI | Note: Official DJI specifications for representative Mavic 3 Enterprise variants, including weight, endurance, flight distance, sensors, and navigation. | Accessed: 2026-06-20About UsPublisher: DJI | Note: Supports DJI manufacturer background and Shenzhen, China headquarters context. | Accessed: 2026-06-20DJI Sales Compliance StatementPublisher: DJI | Note: Supports DJI's April 2022 statement that it was temporarily suspending business activities in Russia and Ukraine while reviewing compliance requirements. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Ukraine MoD Mavic ProcurementPublisher: Ministry of Defence of Ukraine | Note: Directly supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War fielding context by documenting Ukrainian Ministry of Defence contracts for 7,200 Mavic 3E and 1,000 Mavic 3T UAVs. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Powering the Front: Tactical Energy Delivery and Management in the Ukraine WarPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Directly supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War battlefield use by Ukrainian forces of DJI Mavic series quadcopters for artillery correction and reconnaissance. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Pathways Towards Multi-Domain Integration for UK Robotic and Autonomous SystemsPublisher: Royal United Services Institute | Note: Directly supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War use by Ukrainian and Russian militaries of large numbers of commercial DJI Mavic 3 quadcopter UAS for tactical situational awareness and one-way attack effects. | Accessed: 2026-06-20ACLED Myanmar Drone WarfarePublisher: ACLED | Note: Directly supports 2021 Myanmar Civil War Mavic-family use by listing DJI Mavic all series among drone types accessible to Myanmar's military and describing commercial-drone adaptation by resistance and military forces. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Israel Retrofitting DJI Commercial Drones to Bomb and Surveil GazaPublisher: Al Jazeera | Note: Directly supports 2023 Israel-Hamas War use of DJI Mavic drones by Israeli forces in Gaza for reconnaissance and target acquisition. | Accessed: 2026-06-20File:DJI Mavic 3.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for the primary DJI Mavic 3 image; listed as CC BY-SA 4.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Ukrainian border guards seize Russian DJI Mavic 3 quadcopter with K-51 gas grenade for the first timePublisher: Gagadget | Note: Supports the DJI Mavic-series drone carriage of a K-51 gas grenade for a planned drop in Ukraine. | Accessed: 2026-06-27A Chinese drone for hobbyists plays a crucial role in the Russia-Ukraine warPublisher: Toledo Public Radio | Note: Supports the DJI Mavic series carrying a fragmentation grenade because the report shows grenades attached to a DJI Mavic 3 in Bakhmut and says DJI drones can be modified to carry a grenade or other small explosive. | Accessed: 2026-06-28Mavic 3 drops grenade with deadly accuracyPublisher: DroneXL | Note: Supports the DJI Mavic 3 dropping an F1 hand grenade on Russian troops under a bridge in Ukraine. | Accessed: 2026-06-28