Municipal officials, aerospace executives, and technology vendors gathered at the 2026 Low-Altitude Economy Development Conference in Wuhu on Thursday to accelerate the commercialization and standardization of unmanned aerial systems.
Held under the theme of establishing a safe low-altitude ecosystem, the event highlighted an industry-wide pivot toward integrated hardware-software delivery, regional test infrastructure, and international equipment exports.
To eliminate bottlenecks where municipal and enterprise customers purchase aircraft, ground stations, and software from separate vendors, tech provider Geovis (Zhongke StarMap) debuted a standardized "Unified Flight + Unified Delivery" low-altitude kit. The package combines DJI Matrice 400 drones, third-generation automated drone docks, self-developed smart air-drop lockers, and cloud management platforms pre-loaded with 40 domain AI algorithms. By linking automated aerial inspection directly with logistics dispatch, the system reduces the average time from hazard detection to emergency supply delivery on-site by over 60 percent.
To lower entry costs for local governments and park operators, Geovis cut typical component costs from over 1 million yuan down to a debut price of 699,000 yuan. Ecosystem partners receive a discounted 499,000 yuan rate, which includes five days of on-site setup, survey work, route confirmation, and operational training.
The conference also marked the official rollout of the Yangtze River Delta Low-Altitude Economic Comprehensive Test and Verification Base in Wuhu. Featuring dual-runway testing facilities, eVTOL landing pads, and 93 specialized testing subjects, the platform provides airworthiness certification, flight testing, and digital tracking for more than 10,000 regional aviation and drone firms.
Demonstrating China's expanding international footprint, domestic manufacturers completed major foreign delivery ceremonies during the event. CETC Wuhu Diamond Aircraft delivered four DA42 general aviation aircraft to Thailand Aviation Industry for pilot training programs. Simultaneously, Wuhu United Aircraft delivered its TD550 unmanned helicopter series to South Korea’s D.A1R Group. That transaction sits under a comprehensive agreement covering joint manufacturing, flight testing, and scene application.
To solidify local supply chains, conference organizers hosted supply-demand matching sessions resulting in six major project signings spanning eVTOL avionics, AI drone modules, and air-ground fire control systems. Wuhu municipal authorities disclosed that the city has secured 32 investment agreements totaling 13.341 billion yuan in 2026 alone.
The city's primary aviation industrial hub in Wanzhi District now houses over 200 specialized enterprises, forming a closed-loop manufacturing cluster for engines, avionics, and complete aircraft.
