Futurise today officially announced the launch of Malaysia’s first-ever National Academy for Drone Sports Excellence (AKSADRON), located in Kuantan, Pahang, with a ground-breaking ceremony.
Set to be a hub for drone racing and high-performance drone activities, AKSADRON is also the country’s first drone sports zone. It will feature a drone racing track and will play host to internationally sanctioned drone sports events. The academy will also pioneer unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) development programmes to cultivate a vibrant pool of Malaysian talents for this emergent industry.
Officiated by YB Dato’ Indera Mohd Shahar Abdullah, Deputy Finance Minister (I), the ground-breaking ceremony was well-attended by ecosystem players from both private and public sectors, drawing huge support from the drone community. In his speech, the Deputy Finance Minister (I) shared that the launch of AKSADRON is a significant step towards fulfilling the nation’s aspirations of becoming a key player in the global drone industry and an ASEAN drone hub.
“With AKSADRON, we will see greater cultivation of our Malaysian talent to meet the demands of the growing drone industry in the nation and across the globe. It also marks a catalytic push to stimulate and facilitate the skilling of the youth through drone sports. I encourage Malaysians, youth and all, to seize the offerings of AKSADRON and strive to increase their technical knowledge and capabilities in drone technology to drive the country’s progress,” said YB Dato’ Indera Mohd Shahar Abdullah.
“We are delighted that Pahang was selected to house Malaysia’s first-ever Drone Sports Centre of Excellence and is in line with Paya Besar’s township development plans. As the first drone sports zone in the country, AKSADRON will help open doors
for talents in Pahang and entire East Coast region, creating diversified economic activities and ensuring inclusive growth and equitable development for all,” added YB Dato’ Indera Mohd Shahar Abdullah.
Rosihan Zain, CEO of Futurise highlighted that the drone sector is rapidly flourishing across the globe and Malaysia is in a good position to capitalise on this opportunity. “Drone technology possesses a multitude of compelling potential for many sectors from agriculture to defence, proving to be a game-changer in industry transformation. AKSADRON will prime Malaysian talents with the necessary high-level UAV expertise through various training programmes. The academy will be a place of both recreation and creation—cultivating the sport of drone racing while giving rise to new highly proficient talents for multiple sectors.”
“AKSADRON marks another milestone in Futurise’s commitment to develop UAV for the nation, a journey that began in 2019 when we established the country’s first Drone Testing Zone (DTZ) in Cyberjaya,” Rosihan added.
AKSADRON will feature an internationally sanctioned drone racing track with a pilot pit, spectator stands and a control tower. It is envisioned to be a vibrant one-stop centre for drone sports enthusiasts and technical experts alike with complete facilities including classrooms, workshops, flight simulators, workspaces, and accommodation.
Located at Tasik Paya Bungor within the Paya Besar vicinity in Kuantan, Pahang, the site is approximately 3.15 acres in size and is further surrounded by open space conducive for high-performance drone flying. AKSADRON is expected to be opened to public before year-end.
The groundbreaking ceremony also featured a drone racing demonstration and presentations from the Malaysia Sports Aviation Federation (MSAF) and the Drone Racing Association Malaysia (DRAM). These organisations will be appointed as advisors to AKSADRON together with other relevant stakeholders.
Last year, at the unveiling of Budget 2022, Finance Minister YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz announced RM5 million for the formation of a “Drone Sports Centre of Excellence”.
Significantly, the worldwide drone market is steadily growing and is estimated to be worth US$41.3 billion in 2026 at a 9.4 percent CAGR1. AKSADRON’s launch therefore, is not only timely but is an important step in Malaysia’s goal to become a major player in the global drone industry and an ASEAN drone hub.
Futurise will manage and administer AKSADRON and will partner MSAF and DRAM to enable a variety of training programmes spanning from beginner to advanced levels. Drone enthusiasts can participate in high-performance drone flight clinics, as well as drone building, and maintenance courses led by industry experts.
