VMPL
Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh) [India], August 19: AKSI Aerospace Group, a Hyderabad-based aerospace and drone technology company, participated in the national-level Drone City Stakeholders Meeting held at Orvakal near Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, on 18 August 2026. The company showcased its indigenous drone platforms and engaged with government officials and industry stakeholders on the development of the emerging drone ecosystem in the State.
The event brought together CEOs and representatives from the drone and aerospace industry and was chaired by Union Minister for Civil Aviation Shri K. Rammohan Naidu. During his visit to the exhibition area, the Union Minister visited the AKSI Aerospace Group stall, where he was briefed on the company's drone platforms and technology capabilities by Shri Pankaj Akula, Group MD, AKSI Aerospace.
AKSI Aerospace showcased the Varuna Agriculture Drone, designed to support precision farming applications, and the Skyshipper Cargo Drone, a multi-rotor UAV engineered for logistics missions. The Skyshipper has a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of approximately 52 kg, including a payload capacity of up to 30 kg, and offers a flight endurance of up to 45 minutes. The company also showcased the Skywing 90 Surveillance Drone, designed for aerial monitoring and security applications, with an endurance of up to 90 minutes. The newly launched AKSI Delta Wing Drone was also showcased, highlighting the company's focus on developing and manufacturing indigenous aerospace and drone technologies for applications across agriculture, industry, cargo transport and security.
Orvakal Drone City is being developed as an integrated ecosystem for drone manufacturing, research, testing, training and technology development, with around 600 acres earmarked for the project. The stakeholders' meeting focused on key requirements including investment, manufacturing infrastructure, testing and certification, airspace clearances and skill development to support the growth of the drone industry.
Commenting on the development, Shri Pankaj Akula, Group MD, AKSI Aerospace, said, "The vision behind Orvakal Drone City is closely aligned with what India needs to build a globally competitive and self-reliant drone ecosystem. Andhra Pradesh has the opportunity to go beyond creating an industrial cluster and build a complete ecosystem where manufacturing, research, testing, training and deployment come together on a common platform. With the right infrastructure, policy support, skilled talent and participation from technology companies, Orvakal can emerge as a global hub for drone manufacturing from India. At AKSI Aerospace, we strongly believe that the next phase of India's drone growth will be driven by indigenous technology, local manufacturing and the ability to build critical capabilities within the country. We see significant potential for industry to contribute to this vision and strengthen India's position in the global drone ecosystem."
The development of Orvakal Drone City comes as drone adoption expands across sectors including agriculture, logistics, infrastructure, public services and surveillance, beyond traditional defence applications. The Union Minister has highlighted a potential requirement of over 6 lakh drones in India, underscoring the opportunity for domestic manufacturing.
Around ₹130 crore in investments have already been secured for the Drone City, with the wider ecosystem projected to attract up to ₹5,000 crore in investments and generate around 5,000 direct and 25,000 indirect jobs.
For AKSI Aerospace, participation in the stakeholders' meeting is aligned with its focus on strengthening India's indigenous drone ecosystem and with the vision for Orvakal as an integrated drone manufacturing and technology hub. The company is building capabilities across navigation systems, autopilots, cameras, batteries, propulsion systems and airframe composites, supporting its approach towards developing critical capabilities across the drone value chain.
About AKSI Aerospace Group
AKSI Aerospace Group is a Hyderabad-based aerospace and drone technology company focused on building indigenous capabilities across the drone and aerospace value chain. Through its nine specialised subsidiary companies, the Group develops critical UAV subsystems, including navigation systems, cameras, batteries, propulsion systems and airframe composites, for applications across agriculture, industry, cargo transport and security.
The Group operates a 1,00,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Hyderabad dedicated to drone and aerospace manufacturing, supporting its focus on indigenous product development and production capabilities.
Through its manufacturing and technology capabilities, AKSI Aerospace is working towards strengthening India's domestic aerospace ecosystem and contributing to the country's broader vision of self-reliance in critical aerospace and drone technologies.
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