China's low-altitude economy gets a strategic boost under new Five-Year Plan

Editor's note: The recommendations for China's 15th Five-Year Plan have been released, outlining strategic priorities for the country's next stage of modernization. CGTN is inviting industry insiders and experts to interpret the policy implications across science and technology, ecological civilization and ecosystem conservation – key drivers of China's high-quality development. In this article, Xie Wentao, chief technology expert at Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), examines how China's emerging low-altitude economy can be strengthened through innovation in airborne systems and integrated industrial development.

This article has been adapted for clarity. The views expressed are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of CGTN.

China's upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) has, for the first time, identified the low-altitude economy as a strategic emerging industrial cluster, elevating it to a national development priority. The move is widely seen as a major policy signal for the aviation and aerospace sector, particularly for airborne systems and onboard equipment, which form the technological backbone of low-altitude aircraft.

Onboard systems – covering avionics, flight control and electromechanical modules – are the "central nervous system" of low-altitude vehicles. Their technological maturity directly determines the safety, efficiency and scalability of low-altitude operations. With decades of accumulated expertise, China's aviation industry has been strengthening innovation across the onboard equipment value chain, positioning core technologies to support the sector's high-quality growth.

The 15th Five-Year Plan period will mark a critical transition for China's low-altitude economy, moving from early-stage exploration to commercial-scale deployment. This phase is expected to be driven by coordinated upgrades across the industrial chain and a reshaping of value creation, underpinned by three key trends.

First, the policy environment is becoming more systematic. Reforms in airspace management, refined operational rules and streamlined airworthiness certification processes are steadily improving the institutional framework for low-altitude operations. Second, technological iteration is accelerating. Advances in electrification, digitalization and intelligent systems are not only enhancing aircraft performance but also pushing the industry toward lower costs and higher-end applications. Third, use cases are moving from proof of flight to proof of value, as real-world applications begin to scale.

Among emerging applications, unmanned aerial cargo transport is widely viewed as one of the most commercially viable segments in the near term. This includes large and medium-sized drones for trunk logistics, as well as smaller platforms for regional and last-mile delivery.

Pilot programs are already underway in regions such as the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, the Yangtze River Delta and the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area. In some locations, local governments and companies have jointly built low-altitude logistics hubs, enabling drone deliveries within 30 minutes in selected areas – cutting transit times and lowering distribution costs. At the same time, trials involving electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and heavy-lift drones are advancing steadily, pointing to a diversified low-altitude ecosystem.

China's low-altitude aircraft industry is also looking outward, with growing interest in overseas markets. While the foundation for international expansion is solid, challenges remain, particularly in core onboard technologies and aligning with global standards.

To achieve a sustained growth, we need to build a coordinated framework combining technology, policy and ecosystem development.

Priorities include deeper integration of low-altitude aviation with artificial intelligence and communications technologies, stronger collaboration among industry, academia and research institutions, and expanded low-altitude digital infrastructure that links aircraft with ground-based traffic management systems.

Active participation in international standard-setting and overseas pilot projects, especially along the Belt and Road, could further support global deployment.

The rise of the low-altitude economy during the 15th Five-Year Plan reflects a broader industrial transformation driven by both technological progress and institutional innovation. As a core player in onboard systems, AVIC Civil Aerospace Systems Engineering Center is aligning itself with the national strategy while reinforcing the technological foundations of a market projected to reach a trillion-yuan scale.

Beyond domestic growth, China's experience may also contribute to global discussions on how low-altitude aviation can be developed safely, efficiently and sustainably, offering new ideas for the next phase of aviation innovation worldwide.