China's low-altitude equipment sector grows fast during 2021-25

BEIJING -- China's low-altitude equipment industry has continuously expanded, with the industry output value maintaining an average annual growth rate of over 10 percent during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), official data showed Sunday.

As of Dec 30, 2025, a total of 1,081 enterprises have completed registration in this sector, with 3,623 types of products filed and more than 5.29 million units registered, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

MIIT officials said that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), China will further accelerate technological innovation in the low-altitude equipment industry, strengthen security foundations, continuously improve the industrial standard system, and promote innovative applications of low-altitude equipment in accordance with local conditions.

The MIIT vowed efforts at a conference in December to develop new pillar industries, including low-altitude economy, integrated circuits, new display technologies, new materials, aerospace, and biomedicine.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China forecasts the low-altitude economy's market size to exceed 3.5 trillion yuan ($498 billion) by 2035.