The lawsuit shows DJI taking a proactive stance as it confronts increasing pressure from Congress to ban its drones from operating in the U.S.

Chinese drone maker DJI, which dominates the global consumer market, said Saturday it was suing the US Department of Defense, complaining that Washington had "erroneously" included the company on a Chinese military company blacklist.

DJI claims it operates solely in the commercial sector with no military ties, disputing the Pentagon's designation.

Two years after the Defense Department added DJI to a list of companies thought to have ties to the Chinese military, the drone maker says it has 'no alternative' other than to sue.