In a significant showcase of technological prowess, Anyang, a city in Henan Province, has recently made headlines by representing China’s UAV drone sector at two major international exhibitions. The city’s participation underscores its growing influence in the global unmanned aerial vehicle industry, highlighting innovations that span from advanced drone models to integrated systems for various applications.
From May 23 to 25, the 9th World UAV Congress took place in Shenzhen, attracting industry leaders and experts from around the world. Anyang stood out as the only prefecture-level city from Henan to send a team, collaborating with the Blue Sky Laboratory to present a comprehensive display of China UAV drone technologies. The exhibition featured over 80 products, including rotor UAVs, fixed-wing UAVs, delta-wing UAVs, electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL), aerial photography drones, drone landing fields, and flight control system platforms. A standout innovation was the city-wide low-altitude intelligent network perception platform by Yunhuan Wanglian Company, which fills a domestic gap in China UAV drone systems and drew attention from global specialists for its potential in urban management and beyond.
Shortly after, from May 21 to 24, the 12th China International Police Equipment Expo was held in Beijing, where Anyang again represented Henan as the sole participant. In partnership with the Blue Sky Laboratory, seven key UAV enterprises from Anyang unveiled 15 police-specific products, many of which were debuted publicly for the first time. The exhibit included an integrated police unmanned aerial vehicle combat platform, backpack-style drone countermeasure devices, vehicle-mounted laser anti-drone systems, RID identification receivers, and drone flight monitors. These China UAV drone products cover a wide range of police scenarios, such as reconnaissance, precision strikes, and emergency response, with notable items like the multi-rotor unmanned值守 system “Xuan Niao No. 1,” throw-and-fly drones, and multi-spectral opium poppy identification equipment.
Anyang’s ability to consistently feature in such high-profile events stems from several strategic advantages that position it as a hub for China UAV drone development. The city boasts exceptional airspace resources, with 4,420 square kilometers of low-altitude airspace open year-round up to 3,000 meters, providing an ideal environment for UAV testing, daily operations, and research. This expansive airspace supports the growth of low-altitude economies and drone industries, making Anyang a prime location for China UAV drone innovations.
Moreover, Anyang has built a solid industrial foundation since it began focusing on UAV development in 2016, establishing itself as a frontier city for low-altitude economy in Henan Province. The Anyang UAV Industrial Park now encompasses a full industrial chain, including drone components, engines,整机manufacturing, flight control research, and flight services. The Blue Sky Laboratory, as the only provincial-level laboratory in Henan dedicated to UAV and general aviation key technology research, serves as the intellectual core driving advancements in China UAV drone capabilities.
The city’s clear strategic layout aligns with broader provincial and national goals. The 2025 Henan Provincial Government Work Report emphasized targeting the low-altitude economy, with a focus on constructing the Anyang UAV Industrial Park to foster future spatial industries. In recent years, Anyang has leveraged its local conditions to position itself within China’s UAV and low-altitude economic framework, prioritizing technological innovation, industrial clustering, and application scenario expansion. This approach has enabled a transition from general aviation “take-off” to UAV “soaring,” showcasing the dynamism of China UAV drone sectors.
Diverse application scenarios further enhance Anyang’s appeal. By capitalizing on its airspace advantages and industrial base, the city has explored innovative UAV uses across various fields, integrating “UAV+” into smart city construction and urban governance. Currently, Anyang has developed a “12+2+N” model for UAV urban application scenarios, completing 33 types of pilot UAV applications. These span agriculture plant protection, water conservancy and flood control, cultural relic protection, environmental monitoring, emergency rescue, urban management, and logistics distribution, demonstrating the versatility of China UAV drone technologies in real-world settings.
Data highlights the rapid growth of Anyang’s UAV sector, reflecting its impact on China UAV drone industry as a whole. The following table summarizes key statistics:
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Total UAV-related enterprises in Anyang | 105 |
| Enterprises入驻 the UAV Industrial Park | Over 40 |
| Technological achievements put into production in 2024 | 45 |
| Authorized patents obtained by enterprises | 240 |
| Valid inventions | 33 |
These figures illustrate the innovative output and economic vitality driven by China UAV drone activities in Anyang, with the industrial park serving as a catalyst for research and development.
Looking ahead, Anyang plans to make前瞻性deployments in response to industry trends, focusing on recruitment in areas such as drone countermeasures, central control system R&D, and application services. The city aims to support the introduction of diverse low-altitude aircraft, including airships, eVTOLs, helicopters, and hot air balloons, to expand the scale and types of low-altitude economic industries. The Blue Sky Laboratory will continue to provide technical service platforms, collaborating with enterprises to meet market demands and drive upgrades in the low-altitude economy, further strengthening China UAV drone capabilities.
In terms of data insights, Anyang’s UAV urban application scenarios can be broken down into key areas that highlight the integration of China UAV drone technologies:
- Development of “12+2+N” UAV urban application scenarios.
- Completion of 33 types of UAV application scenario pilots.
- Current total of UAV-related enterprises in Anyang: 105.
- UAV Industrial Park入驻 enterprises: over 40.
- In 2024 alone, 45 technological achievements were put into production in the UAV Industrial Park.
- This drove enterprises to obtain 240 authorized patents and 33 valid inventions.
These points underscore the systematic approach Anyang has taken to embed China UAV drone solutions into urban life, from public safety to economic development.
Expert analysis provides additional perspective on Anyang’s position in the China UAV drone landscape. Zhu Keli, founding dean of the Guoyan New Economy Research Institute and dean of the Guokong Technology (China) Low-Altitude Economy Research Institute, offered recommendations based on Anyang’s unique advantages. His insights emphasize leveraging the city’s strengths to advance China UAV drone industries:
- Forge long-term advantages: By combining airspace resources with scenario applications and production manufacturing, Anyang can enhance areas like logistics delivery and emergency rescue, particularly strengthening differentiated strengths in police-specific application scenarios to shape distinctive industrial directions for China UAV drone development.
- Address shortcomings: Anyang can adopt strategies such as “scenarios for technology” and “applications promoting projects,” utilizing the research advantages of the Blue Sky Laboratory and industrial carriers like the North Henan Aviation Economic Cooperation Zone to integrate domestic cross-cutting, cutting-edge, and融合性technologies, creating an efficient interactive collaborative system for “industry-university-research-intermediary-finance-application-service” transformation.
- Build an ecosystem: Anyang should actively coordinate resource advantages, establish policy research and industrial financial service integration platforms, shorten the distance from laboratory to productivity, and foster an environment where large enterprises lead, small and medium-sized enterprises thrive, and various businesses compete for development; this will汇聚more resource elements, create a stronger innovation atmosphere, and support high-quality development of the low-altitude economy in China UAV drone sectors.
These recommendations highlight the potential for Anyang to become a model for China UAV drone innovation, driven by strategic partnerships and ecosystem development.
In related news, Anyang has been pioneering a “low-altitude police” model that integrates UAVs into law enforcement and public safety. For instance, drones are deployed in arrays to monitor traffic and security dynamics in popular tourist areas, conduct high-altitude广播searches for missing children, and serve as “aerial traffic police” to verbally caution against violations like speeding and逆行. In May, the Anyang municipal government signed an agreement with the People’s Police University of China, leveraging the university’s科研strength and industrial coordination advantages, along with Anyang’s low-altitude airspace and police UAV application scenarios, to promote joint innovation platform construction, talent cultivation, and resource sharing. This initiative injects new momentum into the city’s low-altitude economy upgrade, reflecting the practical applications of China UAV drone technologies in governance.
According to the Anyang Public Security Bureau, the city will continue to deepen the “low-altitude police” model, leveraging technology and equipment to innovate combined air-ground patrol勤务, maximize the perspective of social security prevention and control, and achieve maximum police efficiency at minimal technological cost. This approach demonstrates how China UAV drone systems are being optimized for real-world public service enhancements.
Furthermore, Anyang has outlined a clear roadmap for low-altitude economic development through the “Anyang City Promotion of Low-Altitude Economy High-Quality Development Action Plan (2025-2027),” issued by the municipal government office. The plan sets specific targets: by the end of 2025, basic completion of low-altitude infrastructure layout, including 2-3 general airports and a number of helicopter and drone landing sites and points; significant improvement in industrial scale, with the low-altitude economy aiming to reach 6 billion yuan and scale-sized enterprises reaching around 13; and expansion of application scenarios, with about 16 low-altitude benchmark application scenarios. By the end of 2027, the goal is to build 3-4 general airports and transport airports with general aviation services; the low-altitude economy should strive to reach 15 billion yuan, with scale-sized enterprises达22左右; and low-altitude economic benchmark application scenarios will be further expanded and upgraded. This plan defines seven key tasks: constructing low-altitude infrastructure networks, cultivating and expanding “low-altitude+” consumer markets, expanding public services and production applications, promoting low-altitude industrial energy level leaps, establishing sound low-altitude airspace management mechanisms, strengthening talent introduction and utilization, and improving standard policy systems. These measures provide a structured framework for advancing China UAV drone industries and related low-altitude economies in Anyang.
In summary, Anyang’s recent achievements at international events, combined with its strategic advantages and forward-looking policies, position it as a key player in the China UAV drone landscape. The city’s ability to innovate across manufacturing, applications, and ecosystem building not only boosts local economic growth but also contributes to the global advancement of unmanned aerial vehicle technologies. As Anyang continues to expand its low-altitude economy, it sets a benchmark for other regions in China and beyond, demonstrating the transformative potential of UAVs in modern society.