Visakhapatnam Engineer Builds Over 420 Drones; Dreams of Rescues By Air Taxis
Despite this achievement, Yogesh remains grounded to the values that shaped his journey
Visakhapatnam: For many people, success is often associated with wealth, rapid expansion, and luxury. However, for 26-year-old aeronautical engineer Yogesh Komara from Visakhapatnam, success is defined by purpose, resilience, and ability to help others grow alongside.
What began in a cramped single-room shed has now evolved into Akshaya Aerospace, a start-up that has produced more than 420 specialised drones for defence, agriculture, surveillance, and industrial applications. Despite this achievement, Yogesh remains grounded to the values that shaped his journey.
In the early days, he worked long hours, assembling drones in a room without even a fan. He recalls how installing an air conditioner made him complacent, leading him to remove the AC within a month. He believes excess comfort is unnecessary; true success lies in using resources to foster creativity and strength in others, rather than indulging in luxury.
This philosophy now drives the culture at Akshaya Aerospace, which employs around 13 to 14 young people, many of them without prior technical experience. However, several of Yogesh’s colleagues now build and sell their own drones, including agricultural models, reflecting his belief that real service involves enabling self-reliance.
Yogesh’s work caught attention of the defence sector. During Operation Sindoor, he had been invited to contribute in developing kamikaze drones for the Indian Army, an experience he describes as transformative. Today, he manufactures drones for the Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam and trains officers in drone operation and maintenance.
Yogesh’s younger brother Ashwin Komara left his software job with a corporate company and joined Akshaya Aerospace. Ashwin now oversees the software side of drone development.
Under the Akshaya Aerospace banner, the brothers have built a diverse portfolio, including 39 agricultural drones for seed spreading and pesticide spraying, 24 kamikaze drones, nine waterproof drones for marine use, 63 FPV (first-person view) drones, 21 survey and mapping drones, three food delivery drones, 17 tethered drones for surveillance, 58 optical fibre drones for anti-jamming operations, 43 inspection drones for infrastructure monitoring, and 144 custom-built drones for defence, industrial, and commercial purposes.
Beyond defence, Yogesh has supplied drones to police stations across North Coastal Andhra Pradesh, as well as to Forest department, Greyhounds, and OCTOPUS units.
Yet, his most ambitious idea is still in progress; an air taxi designed for humanitarian rescue. Inspired by frequent drowning incidents along Visakhapatnam’s coastline, Yogesh envisions an aerial system capable of identifying distressed swimmers, lifting them from sea, and delivering them safely to shore for immediate medical attention. He believes such innovation could significantly improve survival chances during emergencies.
As Akshaya Aerospace continues to expand, Yogesh remains cautious about partnerships. He insists that support must be genuine and driven by a cause rather than profit. “My journey should reflect a rare blend of technical innovation and social responsibility, proving that success is not about luxury but creating impact and empowering others,” Yogesh maintains.
