China’s Growing Low-Altitude Economy Boosts Military Readiness

By Kate Kilgore

Distribution A: Approved for public release

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China is driving investment and production of dual-use technologies that could enable greater use and control of low-altitude airspace by expanding the number of businesses and individuals able to operate systems that could significantly contribute to People’s Liberation Army (PLA) objectives during conflict. Beijing is developing a ‘low-altitude economy’ (LAE) to capitalize on emerging manned and unmanned aircraft technologies to increase efficiency and decrease costs. State-, provincial-, and local-level investment is fueling private and public sector development of technology, infrastructure, and operating systems designed specifically for the airspace below 3 kilometers. These efforts are almost certainly connected to China’s national-level strategy to integrate civilian and military activities and promote dual-use capability development in support of PLA modernization goals. Additionally, the growing number of businesses and sectors operating within the LAE, buttressed by National Defense mobilization laws, provide increased privately owned capabilities China could mobilize in support of PLA operations during conflict.

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