With clear skies and gentle spring breezes, Xinjiang's abundant airspace resources and over 300 annual flight-worthy days provide a stable "temporal runway" for low-altitude aviation activities. Under the vast skies of Xinjiang, a transformation in the low-altitude economy is emerging, much like the vibrant vitality of spring. Aksu Prefecture stands out with distinct advantages in developing this sector, featuring diverse application scenarios spanning agriculture, tourism, emergency response, and logistics. Supported by robust policies, continuous technological innovation, and deep industrial collaboration, Aksu is accelerating the construction of a low-altitude economy industrial ecosystem.

Policy support has played a pivotal role in activating new momentum for the low-altitude economy. The 2026 government work report officially designated it as a national "emerging pillar industry," alongside aerospace, biomedicine, and others. In recent years, Aksu Prefecture has identified key areas such as drone logistics, agricultural plant protection, emergency rescue, and tourism, introducing special subsidies, tax incentives, and other policies to attract leading enterprises. Among them, the Xinjiang Intelligent Equipment Research Institute, a high-end research institution jointly established by the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Government, the Aksu Prefecture Administration, and Taiyuan University of Technology, was inaugurated in November 2023. Equipped with comprehensive facilities, it has built a full-chain hardware support system from experimental R&D to pilot-scale conversion, focusing on key areas such as new energy industry equipment, low-altitude economy operations, aircraft R&D, and intelligent unmanned systems.

The Aviation Aircraft Research Center team at the Xinjiang Intelligent Equipment Research Institute is led by Academician Wu Guanghui of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. "The low-altitude economy is an important component of strategic emerging industries. Aksu, with its unique geographical advantages and resource endowment, has leveraged national policies to attract platforms like the Xinjiang Intelligent Equipment Research Institute," Academician Wu explained while introducing the aircraft under development in the pilot workshop. "After our platform was established, local resources and enterprises voluntarily joined the development efforts, providing us with significant convenience and support."

Similarly attracted by favorable policies, Xinjiang Sanhe UAV Research Institute Co., Ltd. has established an integrated UAV industrial base in Aksu's Keping County, encompassing R&D, production, and training. "The company is a joint venture between the Keping County Party Committee, County Government, and Sanhe Group. The local government provided strong support in preliminary infrastructure design and construction, and continues to offer benefits such as reduced utility costs during operations," said Du Dengjiang, Deputy General Manager of the company. "Building on the existing 'platform + ecosystem' model of government-enterprise cooperation, they are refining details and increasing efforts to help enterprises achieve further successes in technological innovation."

According to statistics from Xinjiang Sanhe UAV Research Institute, Aksu Prefecture currently has approximately 4,500 plant protection drones, with an annual retirement rate of 15% and a similar renewal rate. Driven by both policy and capital, Aksu is transitioning from "pilot exploration" to "scale development." Academician Wu emphasized the region's potential: "I believe the low-altitude economy has great prospects in Xinjiang. The average distance between prefectures and cities is 500 kilometers, and between counties, 200 kilometers. Vehicle-based transport cannot meet urgent demands, creating significant need for aviation logistics and personnel transport—precisely the scenarios that attracted us. The autonomous region recognizes this and is strongly supporting our development in low-altitude economy and aviation."

Technological innovation and scenario expansion are dual drivers of the low-altitude economy. "Aksu has substantial orchard, cotton, and grain planting areas, making UAVs widely applicable in agricultural and forestry protection, significantly enhancing production efficiency," noted Du Dengjiang. "Compared to manual spraying, drones are far more efficient, saving water and pesticides while increasing yields, reducing farmers' medication costs by about 30%." Beyond agriculture, low-altitude economy applications in Aksu are diversifying. In emergency rescue, drones deliver medical supplies to mountainous areas and use thermal imaging for forest fire monitoring. Xinjiang Sanhe UAV Research Institute has developed the southern Xinjiang region's first heavy-payload firefighting UAV series, filling a gap in local emergency equipment.

Aksu's rich tourism resources, such as the majestic Tianshan Canyon viewable by helicopter, offer advantages for "low-altitude sightseeing." Academician Wu highlighted: "The light aircraft displayed here can also be used for tourism; by expanding the cabin space to seat three people, we can serve more tourists." Frequent hail disasters in Aksu, traditionally addressed by manual artillery stations with limited coverage, are now mitigated by the "intelligent hail suppression and rain enhancement UAV system" developed by Xinjiang Silk Road Zhilian Aviation Technology Co., Ltd. This system integrates weather radar, cloud physics detectors, and catalytic projectile launchers to analyze cloud structures in real time and precisely disperse catalysts.

Scenario expansion provides growth space for technology. Academician Wu pointed to an engine in the pilot workshop: "This is an aviation piston engine we are developing. Currently, long-endurance aircraft in Xinjiang still use aviation engines powered by fuel, methanol, or green fuels. By producing methanol from biomass or coal locally, we can achieve green flight." The Aviation Aircraft Research Center also focuses on developing cargo UAVs of varying payloads for different transport scenarios. These include a 1–1.5 ton cargo plane for inter-regional transport in southern Xinjiang, expected to make its first flight by year-end; aircraft for county-to-county transport; and smaller planes enhancing logistics between villages and counties, building an efficient aviation network.

From palm-sized drones to large UAVs carrying 1.5 tons of cargo, Aksu is painting a vibrant picture of low-altitude economic development with deeply integrated, diverse applications. Talent cultivation is key to future prospects. "My undergraduate major was UAVs. After returning to Xinjiang, I sought relevant work while taking side jobs. Learning that Keping County offered UAV instructor exams, I came to study and test. After passing, I stayed as a coach, improving my skills and applying knowledge to work. Now I have stable employment, and the UAV industry's growth trends are promising—I look forward to making great strides here," said Munawair·Wubulikasimu, a staff member at Xinjiang Sanhe UAV Research Institute, who trains new students on drone operation.

The Xinjiang No. 05 Test Center (at Xinjiang Sanhe UAV Research Institute) is southern Xinjiang's only licensed UAV operator examination site, strategically vital for establishing a comprehensive training base. The company emphasizes local talent development, particularly through new vocational farmer training. By combining UAV courses with agricultural knowledge, it enables farmers to meet their own needs while earning income by offering skilled services. "We train about a thousand students annually, including teachers, police officers, and firefighters, reflecting UAVs' cross-industry applications," said Guo Shubin, head of the training center.

Aksu's low-altitude economy practices are supplying continuous talent for Xinjiang's overall development. The Aviation Aircraft Research Center team now includes over 60 core researchers, featuring two experts receiving State Council special allowances, one National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars recipient, 16 senior title holders, 10 young doctors, and more than 20 postgraduates. This talent infusion powerfully drives innovation in Aksu's low-altitude economy. Academician Wu expressed strong confidence in Aksu's and Xinjiang's low-altitude economic future, noting that it not only facilitates industrial upgrading but also strengthens border stability and livelihoods.

From desert cotton fields to Tianshan gorges, from agricultural plant protection to cross-regional logistics, Aksu's low-altitude economy is writing a new chapter in Xinjiang's high-quality development through technological breakthroughs, scenario expansion, and collaborative progress. Its growth injects vigorous momentum into the local economy, serves as a key lever for industrial upgrading, and acts as a resilient link enhancing border stability and livelihoods, synchronizing the development of frontier regions with the pulse of the times.