DJI Matrice 400 Firmware v17.02.50.07 Adds AP100 Parachute Support

DJI has released firmware version v17.02.50.07 for the DJI Matrice 400, and the headline change is native support for the new DJI AP100 Parachute. With this update installed, the M400 can run the parachute as a fully integrated payload, opening the door to C5 and UK5 operations, and, on factory-certified aircraft, C6 and UK6 operations. This guide explains exactly what the firmware unlocks, the important difference between mounting a parachute and holding a class label, and how to update your aircraft.

What Is New In Matrice 400 Firmware v17.02.50.07

The core addition in this release is support for the DJI AP100 Parachute. Once the firmware is applied, the Matrice 400 recognises the parachute through the E-Port V2 connection, runs continuous self-checks on the unit, and surfaces its status inside the Health Management System in DJI Pilot 2. In practical terms, the aircraft now treats the parachute as a genuine part of the platform rather than a bolt-on accessory.

That matters because the AP100 is DJI Enterprise's first purpose-built recovery system for the M400. It is a rear-mounted pod that deploys in under 600 milliseconds and brings the aircraft down under canopy at a controlled speed, protecting the drone, its payload, and people and property below. The firmware is the software layer that makes this recovery behaviour possible.

What Certifications The Update Unlocks

A certified parachute is central to any safety case for flying over people or beyond visual line of sight, and this firmware is what lets the M400 use the AP100 to support those operations. Mounting the DJI AP100 Parachute on an existing Matrice 400 meets C5 or UK5 operational safety requirements, which apply to the STS-01 standard scenario for flights over populated areas within visual line of sight.

There is an important distinction to understand before you plan around C6 or UK6. To meet C6 or UK6 requirements, which apply to the STS-02 standard scenario for beyond visual line of sight operations, you must purchase the DJI Matrice 400 (C6) Worry-Free Plus Combo. Under the applicable regulations, the C6 or UK6 class label applies only to factory-certified systems. It cannot be obtained by mounting a parachute onto an aircraft you already own.

In short, the parachute plus this firmware raises an existing M400 to C5 and UK5 capability, while C6 and UK6 remain reserved for the factory-certified combo. Planning your operations around the correct class label from the outset avoids a costly assumption later.

Why The AP100 Firmware Support Matters For Operators

For enterprise teams, this release turns the Matrice 400 into a platform that regulators can more readily approve for higher-risk flight profiles. Urban patrol crews gain a public safety fallback over busy streets, mapping teams find city-scale capture easier to authorise, and inspection operators working near people or property can build a stronger risk assessment around a certified recovery system.

The integration is deliberately clean. Because the firmware handles the parachute through the aircraft's own connection and health system, there is no third-party wiring or bracket to manage, and the pilot sees parachute status alongside the rest of the aircraft's diagnostics in DJI Pilot 2.

How To Update Your DJI Matrice 400

Updating is straightforward and worth doing before your next flight if you plan to fit the AP100. Power on the aircraft and remote controller, make sure both are charged, then connect to the internet through DJI Pilot 2. The app checks for the latest firmware and prompts you to download and install v17.02.50.07. Keep the aircraft powered throughout, do not interrupt the process, and restart the aircraft once it completes. Always confirm the firmware version has updated correctly before fitting the parachute or flying an operational mission.

For full details on the parachute itself, DJI recommends reading the AP100 user manual and visiting the official product page before your first deployment.

FAQs

What does the DJI Matrice 400 parachute do?

The DJI AP100 Parachute is an emergency recovery system for the Matrice 400. If the aircraft suffers a critical failure, the rear-mounted pod deploys in under 600 milliseconds and lowers the drone under canopy at a controlled descent speed, reducing the risk to the aircraft, its payload, and anyone below.

Does the DJI Matrice 400 need a firmware update for the AP100?

Yes. Firmware version v17.02.50.07 adds native support for the DJI AP100 Parachute. You should install this update so the aircraft recognises the parachute as an integrated payload and monitors it through the Health Management System before any operational flight.

What is the difference between C5 and C6 drone certification?

C5 and UK5 cover flights over populated areas within visual line of sight under the STS-01 scenario, and mounting the AP100 on an existing M400 meets these requirements. C6 and UK6 cover beyond visual line of sight operations under STS-02 and apply only to factory-certified aircraft, so you need the DJI Matrice 400 (C6) Worry-Free Plus Combo for those.

How do I update DJI Matrice 400 firmware?

Connect the aircraft and remote controller to the internet through DJI Pilot 2 with both devices charged. The app detects firmware v17.02.50.07, then downloads and installs it. Keep the aircraft powered throughout and restart it once the update finishes.

Final Thoughts

Firmware v17.02.50.07 is a meaningful step for Matrice 400 operators because it brings the AP100 Parachute into the aircraft as a properly integrated safety system. Applied correctly, it lifts an existing M400 to C5 and UK5 capability for flights over people, while the factory-certified C6 combo remains the route to full BVLOS class labels. Understanding that split now is the difference between a smooth operational approval and an expensive misstep.

Fit your aircraft with the DJI AP100 Parachute and explore the DJI Matrice 400 at the Coptrz official online store, and speak to our enterprise team about the compliance and training that turn certification into an approvable operation.