DJI Matrice 5T

The DJI Matrice 5T is DJI’s new compact flagship model for emergency response, inspection, and mapping. It succeeds the Matrice 4T and is built to handle the weather and times of day when most drones are grounded: IP55 rating, operation from -20 to 50 °C, and up to 59 minutes of flight time. The thermal camera has 1280 × 1024 pixels—four times as many as the 640-pixel sensors in the previous generation—and the obstacle avoidance system now includes both rotating LiDAR and millimeter-wave radar as standard features.

The arms fold up just like on the Matrice 4 series, so the drone fits in a car and is airborne in a few minutes. It is larger and heavier than the 4T (2,239 g with battery), and it is this weight that allows for more sensors, longer flight time, and better weather protection.

New features compared to the Matrice 4T

• 1280 × 1024 thermal camera instead of 640 × 512, with UHR mode providing 2560 × 2048 resolution.
• IP55 rating and operation down to -20 °C, with self-heating batteries.
• Up to 59 minutes of flight time and a 45 km range per battery.
• Rotating LiDAR and millimeter-wave radar as standard, for obstacle detection down to the level of power lines and in the dark.
• Three 50 MP visual cameras with 176× hybrid zoom.
• Two built-in DJI Cellular Dongle 2 (eSIM and nano-SIM) for a backup 4G connection.
• Three E-Ports V3 for up to 400 g of accessories, such as speakers and spotlights, simultaneously.
• New remote controller, the DJI RC Plus 3 Enterprise, with a 7.44-inch screen at 2,000 nits.

1K thermal camera and night vision

The thermal camera is an uncooled VOx sensor with 1,280 × 1,024 pixels, an 8 µm pixel size, and a sensitivity of 50 mK. It measures temperature radiometrically from -20 to 150 °C in high-gain mode and 0 to 550 °C in low-gain mode, with spot and area measurements directly in DJI Pilot 2. With UHR Infrared Image enabled, the resolution becomes 2560 × 2048, allowing a person or a hot component to be clearly visible even against a cluttered background. Images are saved as R-JPEG, so temperature data is retained for later analysis.

The wide-angle camera features a 1/0.98-inch sensor and supports ISO up to 1,638,400 in night mode, providing color images down to 0.01 lux. Starting at 11× zoom, you can switch to black-and-white night vision using the built-in NIR light. Thermal and visual images can be displayed side by side, as picture-in-picture, or merged (Fusion Mode), and up to four images can be saved with each press: wide-angle, telephoto, thermal, and fusion.

Three Cameras and Laser Rangefinder

In addition to the thermal camera, the gimbal features three 50 MP visual cameras:

• Wide-angle: 1/0.98 inch, 23.5 mm equiv., f/1.8
• Medium telephoto: 1/1.28 inch, 70 mm equiv., 3× optical zoom
• Telephoto: 1/1.5 inches, 252 mm equiv., up to 176× hybrid zoom

The medium telephoto lens is sufficient to see details on power lines and bridges from about 10 meters away, and the telephoto camera captures details from a distance without the drone needing to fly close. In good lighting and at 26× zoom or higher, the telephoto camera automatically switches to 8K mode for sharper images. The laser rangefinder has a range of 3,000 m straight ahead and 1,200 m at an oblique angle, and overlays distance and coordinates directly onto the image.

Obstacle detection that handles power lines and darkness

The Matrice 5T combines six fisheye cameras, a rotating LiDAR on top, millimeter-wave radar facing forward, upward, and downward, and a ToF sensor underneath. The LiDAR sensor measures up to 110 m and is used for navigation and obstacle detection, not for mapping. The radar detects a 10-mm black insulated cable at a range of 20 m upward and downward, and 40 m forward.

According to DJI, the obstacle detection works against a 21.6-mm steel-aluminum wire at speeds of up to 21 m/s, and against a 12-mm power line at speeds of up to 15 m/s. This allows the drone to fly near substations, power lines, and bridges even in the dark. However, the drone cannot avoid fast-moving objects, and rain, fog, and snow can interfere with the detection system.

Built for All Weather and Cold Conditions

With an IP55 rating, the Matrice 5T can withstand up to 100 mm of rain per day and dust. The drone operates between -20 and 50 °C, withstands 12 m/s winds during takeoff and landing, and can reach altitudes of up to 7,000 m above sea level with the standard propellers. The batteries self-heat in cold conditions, and ice-repellent propellers are available as an accessory for winter flights.

The battery has a capacity of 215 Wh and charges from 0 to 100% in approximately 45 minutes using the 515W charging hub, which charges three batteries in sequence. Hot-swapping (battery replacement while the drone is powered on) is not supported.

O4 Enterprise, Relay, and 4G

The DJI O4 Enterprise video link has a range of up to 20 km in Europe (CE) and transmits three parallel 1080p streams to the remote controller with a latency of approximately 130 ms. The link automatically switches between frequency bands to withstand interference in urban environments.

When line-of-sight is not available, a Matrice 5T can act as an in-flight relay for up to two other Matrice 5T drones. The two built-in DJI Cellular Dongle 2 modules also maintain a backup connection via 4G when buildings or terrain block the radio link. The relay function requires the 5 GHz band, which is not permitted everywhere.

Onboard AI and DJI FlightHub 2

Built-in AI models recognize over 20 types of objects in real time, such as people, vehicles, and boats. The onboard computing unit is open to both proprietary and third-party AI algorithms, and DJI Pilot 2 supports third-party plugins. Through DJI FlightHub 2, the drone, cameras, and PSDK accessories can be controlled remotely, with live video feed to the operations center wherever they are located. For developers, the Payload SDK, Mobile SDK, and Cloud API are available.

Built-in ADS-B and Remote ID receivers display nearby aircraft and other drones directly in DJI Pilot 2.

Mapping and Rapid Modeling

The Matrice 5T features built-in RTK (1 cm + 1 ppm horizontally) and TimeSync 2.0, which synchronizes the camera, gimbal, and RTK at the microsecond level and records the camera’s exact position in every image. Together with DJI Terra, this provides centimeter-level accuracy without ground control points under the right conditions. For high-precision surveying missions, however, we still recommend using control points.

The drone also supports 2D thermal mapping with temperature measurement and close-range photogrammetry. The remote controller can generate point clouds or 2.5D models directly in the field—about 200 images in eight minutes—so you can see the results before packing up.

Automated Power Line Inspection

With the Power Line Inspection feature, the Matrice 5T flies sideways along the power line and automatically follows the sag between the poles, without the need for pre-built 3D models or pre-planned routes. It supports single- to eight-circuit lines and ground wires with a slope of up to 40°. RTK is not required, but is recommended if the image positions are to be used to locate faults afterward. If the drone approaches an obstacle, such as a tree, it slows down and remains stationary until the pilot has maneuvered past it.

Takeoff and Landing from Ships

With Boat Launch, the Matrice 5T can take off and land from a moving vessel. The drone locates a landing marker on the deck and lands automatically. DJI recommends speeds below 10 knots and wind speeds below 5 m/s, with a clear area of 3 × 3 m, preferably at the stern. This enables maritime inspection, search and rescue, and offshore surveillance.

Speakers and Spotlights

The accessories for the Matrice 5T are new and are not compatible with the Matrice 4 series, and vice versa. Both attach to the E-Port and are IP55-rated.

• DJI AS2 Speaker: 120 dB at 1 m and approximately 400 m range. Live broadcasts, recorded messages, and text-to-speech, as well as a five-color warning light.
• DJI AL2 Spotlight: 60 W with flood and spot modes, as well as a flashing mode. Follows the camera’s direction and illuminates approximately 1,500 m² from a distance of 100 meters.

Regulations

The Matrice 5T is classified as C2 and C6 according to EASA. C2 allows for open-category A2 flights near people, and C6 is the class for the standard scenario STS-02. For C5 and STS-01, a special C5 combo is required. Contact us if you’re unsure which category your mission falls under, or if you need help with operating permits and SORA.

Service and DJI Care

The first year includes DJI Care Enterprise Plus, which covers repairs within the coverage limit, protection against water damage and loss, as well as battery replacement. Terms and conditions may vary by country.

Specifications at a Glance

• Weight: 2,239 g (with battery)
• Max takeoff weight: 2,639 g
• Maximum payload: 400 g
• Unfolded: 408 × 507 × 191 mm
• Folded: 335 × 155 × 203 mm
• Flight time: up to 59 min
• Hover time: up to 54 min
• Max speed: 23 m/s
• Wind resistance: 12 m/s
• Operating temperature: -20 to 50 °C
• Protection class: IP55
• Thermal camera: 1280 × 1024 (UHR 2560 × 2048)
• Temperature measurement: -20 to 550 °C
• Visual cameras: 3 × 50 MP
• Zoom: 176× hybrid
• Laser range: up to 3,000 m
• Video link: O4 Enterprise, 20 km (CE)
• RTK: 1 cm + 1 ppm (H)
• Battery: 215 Wh, 768 g
• EU class: C2 / C6