At a historical juncture of accelerated restructuring of the global low altitude economy, Chinese drone companies are driving a deep transformation of the global low altitude industry landscape with a dual wheel approach of "technological breakthroughs+standard output". The three landmark events of Yihang Intelligent EH216-S manned aircraft obtaining takeoff and landing permits from South Korea, Meituan Keeta Drone landing in the United Arab Emirates for beyond visual range delivery, and Fengfei Aviation Kerry Gull 2-ton eVTOL mass production not only mark China's breakthrough in drone technology beyond international airworthiness barriers, but also promote China's transition from a participant in the low air economy to a rule maker.
1、 Technological breakthrough: reconstructing the global low altitude industry ecosystem
1. Yihang Intelligence: Global Breakthrough of Manned eVTOL
As the world's first manned eVTOL enterprise with complete "four certificates", Yihang Intelligent EH216-S has completed over 100000 commercial passenger flights in cities such as Shenzhen and Guangzhou. The acquisition of the takeoff and landing permit for South Korea this time is an important breakthrough in the Northeast Asian market after obtaining the production license from the Civil Aviation Administration of China in 2024. This aircraft model adopts a fully autonomous flight system and can operate safely in complex weather conditions with visibility below 500 meters through five redundant flight controls and multi-sensor fusion technology. The opening of the Seoul Jeju Island air route will achieve a 2-hour cross sea service, which is 5 times more efficient than traditional ferries and provides a new paradigm for global island tourism.
2. Meituan drones: a beyond visual range revolution in logistics delivery
The over the horizon delivery qualification of Meituan Keeta Drone in the United Arab Emirates marks the comprehensive landing of Chinese drone technology in the Middle East market. The Beidou GNSS dual-mode navigation system it is equipped with can achieve centimeter level positioning accuracy in high-temperature desert environments, with a single delivery range exceeding 50 kilometers. In the Dubai Silicon Valley pilot, Keeta Drone has achieved rapid delivery of high-frequency materials such as medicines and fresh produce within 30 minutes, reducing operating costs by 70% compared to traditional logistics. This breakthrough not only verifies the reliability of Chinese drones in extreme environments, but also promotes the transformation of the global logistics industry towards "contactless, high-efficiency".
3. Fengfei Aviation: Mass production milestone for tonnage eVTOL
The mass production of the Fengfei Aviation Kerry Gull 2-ton eVTOL completely rewrites the global low altitude logistics rules. This aircraft model adopts a "vertical takeoff and landing+fixed wing cruise" composite wing design, with a maximum range of 250 kilometers and an effective payload of 400 kilograms. The transportation cost is only one-third of that of a helicopter. At the Wuhan final assembly base, Kairuiou is accelerating delivery with a monthly production capacity of 20 aircraft, and the first batch of orders have covered logistics giants such as SF Express and JD.com. After its freight version is put into operation within this year, it will build a "30 minute emergency logistics circle" in the Yangtze River Delta and Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area, with an expected reduction of 200000 tons of carbon emissions per year.
2、 Standard Breakthrough: The Global Discourse Power of China's Solution
1. The Chinese paradigm of airworthiness certification
Yihang Intelligent EH216-S innovatively introduced the "dynamic compliance verification" mode of the Civil Aviation Administration of China into the international process during the certification process in South Korea, compressing the certification cycle by 30%. Fengfei Aviation's Kairui Ou has successfully promoted the inclusion of China's unique high-altitude airworthiness requirements, drone collaborative management, and other standards into FAA and EASA technical specifications in European and American certifications. These practices have made China the first country in the world to achieve "multi regional airworthiness mutual recognition" of eVTOL.
2. Chinese wisdom in airspace management
Based on the "Low altitude Digital Corridor" policy proposed by the Two Sessions in 2025, China has established unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) automatic airspace declaration systems in 12 pilot cities including Shenzhen and Chengdu. The operation of Meituan Keeta Drone in the United Arab Emirates is based on the "30 second rapid approval" mode of this system, which achieves safety supervision of beyond visual range flights. This "grid management+dynamic authorization" airspace governance scheme has been listed as a global reference standard for low altitude traffic management by ICAO.
3. China's advantages in the industrial chain
The full chain localization capability of China's drone industry provides low-cost and high reliability solutions for the world. The localization rate of core components of Fengfei Aviation Kairuiou has reached 100%, and supporting enterprises such as high-voltage connectors for aerospace electrical appliances and aviation grade batteries for CATL have formed a "2-hour supply chain circle". This industrial ecosystem makes the manufacturing cost of eVTOL in China 40% lower than similar products in Europe and America, making it a price benchmark for the global low altitude economy.
3、 Ecological Reconstruction: The Chinese Engine for Trillion Dollar Markets
1. Policy empowered industrial fission
The implementation of the "Regulations on the Administration of Civil Unmanned Aerial Vehicles" in 2025 marks the entry of China's low altitude economy into a stage of standardized development. The policy clearly opens up airspace below 300 meters and establishes a national low altitude economic innovation fund, which is expected to drive the scale of the industrial chain to exceed one trillion yuan by 2027. The global layout of enterprises such as Yihang Intelligence, Meituan, and Fengfei is a direct manifestation of this policy dividend.
2. The multiplier effect of scenario innovation
The breakthroughs of the three major enterprises are giving rise to new forms of industries:
Low altitude tourism: Yihang Intelligence plans to replicate the "air sightseeing" model in South Korea and Japan, and expects the global low altitude tourism market to exceed $20 billion by 2026.
• Emergency rescue: the application of Fengfei Kairuiou in the Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area earthquake has created an emergency system of "30 minute material airdrop", which has been included in the standards of the National Emergency Management Department.
Smart City: Meituan's drone delivery network in Dubai is driving the upgrade of urban infrastructure towards "land air collaboration", and it is expected that 30% of the global smart city market will rely on drone systems by 2030.
3. Global collaboration led by standards
The 9 international standards for drones led by China are reshaping the global industry rules. For example, ISO 5286 "Test Methods for Flight Performance of Fixed Wing Drones" unifies global testing standards, making the technical indicators of Chinese enterprises an internationally recognized language. This standard output capability has given China unprecedented voice in global low altitude economic governance.
4、 Future Outlook: From 'Made in China' to 'Chinese Rules'
The breakthrough of the three major enterprises is not an isolated event, but a microcosm of the maturity of China's low altitude economic ecology. When Yihang Intelligence showcases manned flights in Seoul, Meituan drones cross deserts in Dubai, and Fengfei Kairui Gull goes into mass production in Wuhan, China is defining a new order for the global low altitude economy. This order is not only a technological output, but also a comprehensive guidance of standards, rules, and ecology.
With the market size of the low altitude economy exceeding 1.5 trillion yuan by 2025, China is achieving a qualitative change from following to leading with a three-level leap of "technological innovation scenario landing standard output". In the next five years, Chinese drone companies will continue to make breakthroughs in areas such as manned aviation, beyond visual range logistics, and urban air transportation, ultimately completing the historical leap from "product going global" to "rule making". This is not only a victory for China's high-end manufacturing, but also a Chinese solution for the sustainable development of the global low altitude economy.
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