What is the DJI Matrice 30T?
The DJI Matrice 30T (M30T) is a 3.77 kg, IP55-rated enterprise drone launched in 2022 with a wide camera, a 48 MP zoom camera, a 640 × 512 radiometric thermal camera and a 1,200 m laser rangefinder in one gimbal. It flies up to 41 minutes on two hot-swappable TB30 batteries. US dealers say DJI has ended production, but DJI still ships firmware for the M30 series, and remaining new stock sells in the US for about $12,600 with the BS30 battery station and two batteries.
The DJI Matrice 30T became a common thermal aircraft for public safety and utility teams after its 2022 launch. US dealers say production has ended, though, and now point buyers to the Matrice 4 series.
So the useful questions have changed: is it worth buying one now, new or used, and how long can the M30Ts you already own keep working? This guide covers the specs that matter, the Matrice 4T and 4TD comparison, support and US regulatory status, used-buying checks and fleet planning.
Table of contents
- DJI Matrice 30T specs
- Is the Matrice 30T discontinued?
- Matrice 30T vs Matrice 4T and 4TD
- Can you still buy a DJI Matrice 30T in the US?
- Buying a used Matrice 30T: what to check
- TB30 batteries decide how long an M30T fleet lasts
- Keep, stretch or replace: a decision for current owners
- Flying the Matrice 30T legally
- Records that keep an older fleet defensible
- Frequently asked questions
DJI Matrice 30T specs
The DJI Matrice 30T weighs 3,770 g with two batteries, flies up to 41 minutes, is rated IP55 and works from -20°C to 50°C. The figures below come from DJI's official Matrice 30 series specifications and product page.
| Spec | Matrice 30T |
|---|---|
| Takeoff weight | 3,770 g ± 10 g (two TB30 batteries), 4,069 g max |
| Size (unfolded, no props) | 470 × 585 × 215 mm |
| Max flight / hover time | 41 min / 36 min |
| Max wind resistance | 12 m/s |
| Ingress protection | IP55 |
| Operating temperature | -20°C to 50°C |
| Wide camera | 12 MP, 1/2-inch CMOS, 84° FOV |
| Zoom camera | 48 MP, 1/2-inch CMOS, 21-75 mm (113-405 mm equivalent), up to 200x hybrid |
| Thermal | 640 × 512 radiometric, 1280 × 1024 super-resolution mode |
| Thermal measurement | -20°C to 150°C (high gain), 0°C to 500°C (low gain), ±2°C or ±2% |
| Laser rangefinder | 3 to 1,200 m |
| Transmission | O3 Enterprise, 15 km (FCC) |
| Battery | TB30, 131.6 Wh, 5,880 mAh, flown in pairs |
| Charging | BS30 station, about 30 min from 20% to 90% |
| Controller | DJI RC Plus, 7.02-inch screen |
IP55 and a -20°C floor let the M30T fly in rain and cold that ground a Matrice 4T. Two batteries, hot-swappable: the aircraft runs on a pair of TB30s and you can swap them without powering down, so it doesn't reboot or lose its link between sorties. The TB30s self-heat below 10°C, and DJI's M30 FAQ recommends keeping them above 18°C for best performance.
Is the Matrice 30T discontinued?
Yes. US dealers report that DJI has ended production of the Matrice 30T, and they are selling remaining stock. The aircraft is still supported, though. DJI released new M30 series aircraft firmware (v17.03.00.13) and controller firmware on August 11, 2026, according to its Matrice 30 downloads page.
- Production: ended, according to dealers. New units are whatever dealers still hold.
- Firmware: active as of August 2026. The latest release notes list only "fixed known issues."
- Service and repair: still offered. The M30 series is not on DJI's service suspension notice for old products, which lists 2026 end dates for enterprise gear such as the Matrice M200 V2 (January 30) and Datalink 3 (September 1).
- Successor: dealers steer M30T buyers to the Matrice 4T and 4TD. DJI has not announced a direct Matrice 30 replacement.
The docked version is a separate story. According to DJI's FAQ, the original DJI Dock works only with the M30 and M30T Dock versions, which have a slightly different body. A standard M30T cannot go in a dock. US dealers have also stopped selling the first-generation Dock, so docked M30T programs are legacy installations too. Newer docked programs run on the DJI Dock 3 and Matrice 4TD.
Matrice 30T vs Matrice 4T and 4TD
The Matrice 30T is heavier and flies for less time than either Matrice 4 thermal model. It keeps two advantages over the handheld Matrice 4T: weather sealing and hot-swap dual batteries. The Matrice 4TD matches it on weather and beats it on most other specs, but it is built around a dock.
| Matrice 30T | Matrice 4T | Matrice 4TD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Out of production | Current | Current |
| Weight | 3,770 g | 1,219 g | 1,850 g |
| Flight time | 41 min | 49 min | About 54 min |
| IP rating | IP55 | None | IP55 |
| Operating temp | -20°C to 50°C | -10°C to 40°C | -20°C to 50°C |
| Cameras | Wide, zoom, thermal | Wide, medium tele, tele, thermal | Wide, medium tele, tele, thermal |
| Laser rangefinder | 1,200 m | 1,800 m | 1,800 m |
| Range | 15 km transmission (FCC) | 25 km transmission (FCC) | 10 km dock operating radius |
| Battery | 2 × TB30, 131.6 Wh each | 1 × 99.5 Wh | 1 × 149.9 Wh |
| Hot swap | Yes | No | No |
| Dock | Original Dock (Dock version only) | No | Dock 3 |
The M30T wins on weather. If your mission log shows real call-outs in rain or sub-zero temperatures, an M30T can take them and a Matrice 4T cannot. Our Matrice 4T guide covers its limits.
The Matrice 4T wins on nearly everything else for a crew that carries its drone. It is lighter, has better optics, ranges farther and flies longer. It is also easier to take on a plane: its 99.5 Wh battery is under the airline 100 Wh line, while each TB30 needs airline approval (more on that below).
The 4TD is the closest thing to an M30T successor. It has the same IP55 rating and temperature range with newer sensors. But it is designed and priced around Dock 3, so an agency that wants a weather-sealed aircraft for crews in vehicles has no like-for-like current replacement from DJI. The Matrice 400 is also IP55-rated, but at 9.74 kg with a separate payload such as the H30T, it is a much larger aircraft. That gap is a strong reason to keep existing M30Ts running.
Can you still buy a DJI Matrice 30T in the US?
Yes. As of September 30, 2026, you can legally buy, import and fly a Matrice 30T in the United States. It was FCC-authorized in 2022, before the FCC added foreign-produced drones and critical components to its Covered List on December 22, 2025. That listing blocks new equipment authorizations; the FCC did not revoke existing ones.
Three things make buying one harder than it used to be:
- Limited stock. New units are leftover inventory. In late September 2026, in-stock US listings started at about $11,700 for the aircraft and RC Plus with no batteries, or about $12,600 with the BS30 station and two TB30s. Check what each bundle includes before comparing prices.
- A 100% tariff on new imports. An August 13, 2026 Section 232 proclamation put a 100% tariff on imported drones that integrate thermal imagers and on docking stations, effective September 3, 2026. Any new M30T import would be caught by its thermal camera; units imported before that date were not.
- The FCC "military-grade" proposal. PS Docket 26-189, published in the Federal Register on August 3, 2026, would stop the continued importation and marketing of previously authorized Covered List drones that meet any of seven definitions. Thermal imaging is one of them, so the M30T qualifies. The notice says the prohibition would not affect continued use of already-purchased aircraft, and proposes a 180-day wind-down after the final prohibition is published in the Federal Register. Comments closed on September 2, 2026, and no final decision had been published at the time of writing.
With production already over, the proposal would change little about new M30T supply. It matters more for parts and batteries. The notice covers "UAS and UAS critical components" but does not say, model by model, which spares for a thermal aircraft would be caught. If TB30s or RC Plus controllers are, the resale and parts market becomes the only supply. Our DJI ban explainer and US foreign drone ban analysis cover the wider policy picture.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check with counsel or your procurement office before you buy.
Buying a used Matrice 30T: what to check
Resale Matrice 30T listings on eBay and pilot forums during 2026 ran from roughly $6,000 to $10,500, with several around $8,500, well below remaining new stock. It is only a bargain if the batteries, sensors and paperwork are sound. Go through these checks before you pay.
Battery cycle counts and pair matching. DJI's Matrice 30 maintenance manual rates each TB30 for 400 cycles and says to replace it after that. Connect every battery and read its cycle count and health in DJI Pilot 2. A "complete kit" with four batteries at 350 cycles each is really an airframe plus a replacement battery bill of roughly $1,850 to $1,900.
Thermal sensor burn. DJI's M30 release notes warn that the infrared sensor can burn before burn protection triggers if the camera is pointed at direct sunlight. Power up the aircraft and look at a uniform surface in the thermal feed for fixed dark or bright spots and trails that stay put when the camera moves. DJI says minor burns may recover if the aircraft is left to sit or a manual flat-field correction (FFC) is run; marks that persist after that need a service assessment before you pay.
Airframe history. Ask for the flight logs, not a verbal summary. Logs show total hours, hard landings, error messages and whether the aircraft has flown in the conditions you plan to use it in. Our DJI logs guide explains how to pull and read them.
Seals, firmware and service history. IP55 depends on seals and latches in good condition, so check for cracked battery covers or loose arm locks. Confirm the aircraft and RC Plus update to current firmware and are unbound from the seller's account, and ask for repair invoices and any DJI Care Enterprise terms.
FAA registration. Under 14 CFR 48.100(d), a drone's registration ends when ownership is transferred. The seller should remove the aircraft from their DroneZone inventory, and you register it under your own account before flying commercially. For the M30 series, DJI says the Remote ID serial number is the aircraft serial number.
Log these checks and photos against the serial number when the aircraft arrives. That is the first entry in its equipment record.
TB30 batteries decide how long an M30T fleet lasts
For a Matrice 30T fleet, TB30 batteries will likely run out before the airframes do. Each TB30 is rated for 400 cycles, and the aircraft uses two per sortie, so battery use doubles compared with a single-battery drone.
A hypothetical example. A team flies three sorties a day, 250 days a year: 750 sorties, which means 1,500 battery-cycles a year. With a pool of eight TB30s (four pairs), each battery takes about 190 cycles a year and reaches 400 in a little over two years. Double the pool to 16 batteries and it lasts about four years, provided the batteries don't age out on the shelf first.
September 2026 US listings put a new TB30 at roughly $459 to $473, depending on the seller. Buying a lifetime supply now means a large upfront cost, and lithium batteries sitting in storage still age. A more practical approach:
- Track cycles per serial number, not per aircraft. Batteries move between airframes.
- Retire in matched pairs. Pairing a 380-cycle battery with a 60-cycle one lets the weaker battery limit every sortie.
- Keep an 18-month buffer, not a lifetime stock. Buy enough spares to cover expected retirements over the next year and a half, then review.
- Store at storage charge. DJI says long-term storage at full charge significantly shortens battery life; let the self-discharge setting bring spares down, and keep them out of hot vehicles.
Travel is harder too. At 131.6 Wh, each TB30 falls in the 101 to 160 Wh band of the FAA PackSafe lithium battery rules. That means airline approval and a limit of two spare batteries per passenger, carried in the cabin. One M30T sortie needs a pair, so a single traveller can't carry a useful spare set on a passenger flight. Crews that fly to jobs ship batteries as dangerous goods or travel as a team. Our drone maintenance log guide covers how to record cycles and retirements.
Keep, stretch or replace: a decision for current owners
If you already fly Matrice 30Ts, keeping them is usually the right call for now. The aircraft are still supported, the weather capability is hard to replace, and a new DJI thermal fleet would cost more and face the same regulatory questions. What you do need is a decision date instead of an open-ended plan.
Use these conditions as triggers to revisit that decision:
- DJI adds the M30 series to its service suspension notice. Check the notice periodically. After the listed date, DJI stops official repair and technical support.
- The FCC finalizes Docket 26-189 in a way that covers TB30s or controllers. Your battery buffer then becomes the fleet's remaining life.
- Repair turnaround times grow longer than your spare aircraft can cover. If one M30T in the shop means a gap in coverage, it's time to add aircraft, whatever the make.
- Mission needs outgrow 1,200 m ranging or the M30T's zoom camera. If your work needs the longer ranging and medium tele of the Matrice 4 series, the case for replacement gets stronger.
Stretching an M30T fleet means consolidating: pool batteries, strip a damaged airframe for parts, and move the oldest aircraft to training and low-risk work.
Replacement doesn't have to be all at once, either. A mixed fleet is one option: M30Ts kept for bad-weather response, with a newer or non-Covered-List aircraft added for everything else. Drone fleet management across several manufacturers is harder to run informally, so this is the point to put a system in place. Our thermal drone buyer's guide compares the alternatives.
Flying the Matrice 30T legally
At 3.77 kg, the Matrice 30T needs registration and a certificated pilot for commercial work in the US and Europe. It has built-in Remote ID and an EASA C2 class label.
In the United States, fly under a Part 107 certificate with the aircraft registered to your organization, or as a public aircraft operation where that applies (see our guide to drones for emergency response). DJI says M30 firmware v05.01.00.00 and later is Remote ID compliant, so no broadcast module is needed. Controlled airspace needs FAA authorization, usually through LAANC. Night flight doesn't need a waiver, but 14 CFR 107.29 requires current night training or testing and anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles.
In Europe, the M30 series earned a C2 class identification label in 2023; existing owners request the label in DJI Pilot 2 and fit low-noise propellers, which are sold separately. That allows Open category A2 flights with an A2 certificate of competency, keeping 30 m from uninvolved people (5 m in low-speed mode). See how to get an EU drone license.
Weather limits are still limits. IP55 protects against rain; it doesn't make gusts over 12 m/s safe. Set your own go/no-go thresholds below the manufacturer's figures, as covered in our guide to weather considerations for professional drone operations.
Records that keep an older fleet defensible
Every decision above depends on knowing hours, cycles and history per serial number. Those numbers come from flight logs, and on a handheld M30T the logs sit on the RC Plus until someone moves them.
DJI removed the option to sync flight records to its servers for US consumer and enterprise users in 2024. That means pulling logs from each RC Plus on a schedule and uploading them to one place. DroneBundle's DJI flight log processing parses those logs into flight time, battery use and a track you can replay after landing, attached to the pilot and aircraft. Its maintenance tracking counts hours and battery cycles per serial number from the processed logs. Flights are matched to a job where possible; unmatched ones wait for someone to link them.
Docked M30Ts on the original DJI Dock report through DJI FlightHub 2. DroneBundle's FlightHub 2 sync brings those flights into the same records as the handheld fleet.
Also keep firmware version history per aircraft and controller, sensor condition notes with photos (radiometric data in power line inspection reports is only as credible as the sensor), and disposal records showing where each serialized part went and that the FAA registration was cancelled.
See how this looks for public safety agencies and utility inspection teams, or review equipment tracking on its own.
Frequently asked questions
Is the DJI Matrice 30T discontinued?
Yes. US dealers report that DJI has ended production of the Matrice 30T, and they are selling remaining stock. DJI still supports it: new M30 series firmware was released on August 11, 2026, and the M30 series is not on DJI's service suspension notice.
Is the Matrice 30T better than the Matrice 4T?
It depends on the mission. The Matrice 30T is IP55-rated, flies down to -20°C and hot-swaps its batteries, while the Matrice 4T has no IP rating. The Matrice 4T is about a third of the weight, flies 8 minutes longer, ranges 1,800 m instead of 1,200 m and adds a medium telephoto camera.
How long does a Matrice 30T battery last?
A TB30 is rated for 400 charge cycles, and the M30T flies on two at a time for up to 41 minutes. In a hypothetical fleet flying 750 sorties a year on eight batteries, each would hit 400 cycles in a little over two years.
Can I still fly my Matrice 30T if the FCC bans DJI thermal drones?
Yes, under the current proposal. PS Docket 26-189 targets importing and marketing, and the notice says it would not affect the continued use of drones already purchased. It had not been finalized as of September 30, 2026. The bigger risk for owners is the supply of batteries and parts.
Keep your Matrice 30T fleet flying on facts, not guesses
Whether you are buying your first used M30T or deciding how many more years your fleet has left, the answer depends on hours, cycles and history per serial number. DroneBundle tracks every aircraft, TB30 battery and pilot across manufacturers, processes DJI flight logs and keeps maintenance and compliance records ready for an insurer or an audit.
Start your free trial or book a live demo to see your M30T fleet's battery cycles and service history in one place. Plans are on the pricing page.
