The development of the low-altitude economy has been elevated as a national strategy in China, and the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry is an important component of the new productive forces of the low-altitude economy. Promoting the high-quality development of the UAV industry is crucial for cultivating advanced intelligent manufacturing and for improving the quality and efficiency of low-altitude production activities; it will become a key support for driving the growth of the low-altitude economy. This study elucidates the profound impact and changes brought about by the development of the UAV industry on economic and social transformation as well as national defense security construction. It analyzes the development elements involved in the UAV industry, including technological breakthroughs, scenario market cultivation, low-altitude airspace governance, resource and facility allocation, safety supervision, and policy and regulatory construction, as well as major challenges it faces. Moreover, the study proposes the following countermeasures: (1) coordinating the overall layout of the entire UAV industry chain, (2) accelerating innovations in application scenarios and key technologies, (3) exploring new models for low-altitude airspace governance, (4) strengthening the allocation of basic low-altitude resources, and (5) constructing a comprehensive regulatory and service system for the entire industry chain. Furthermore, it explores future development trends in the UAV industry, such as networked information transmission, digital flight space, intelligent operation and control, and service-oriented industry applications, aiming to provide theoretical guidance and practical support for management departments and enterprises to promote the high-quality development of the UAV industry.