Article Posted on : - Mar 29, 2012

NEW DELHI (BNS): The world's top arms producers will converge at the Pragati Maidan, here, as the biennial 'Defexpo India 2012' kicks off on Thursday.

Indian Defence Minister AK Antony will inaugurate the four-day event described as the largest ever defence exposition in Asia.

The Def expo, organised by the Department of Defence Production, will showcase India's emergence as an attractive destination for investment in the defence sector.

The exhibition is dedicated to global land, naval and internal security systems business activity - from suppliers to manufacturers and technology providers to services.

It offers an opportunity to the international defence firms to promote and showcase their products and services and form alliances and joint ventures in the defence industry.

About 567 defence companies from over 32 countries are expected to participate showcasing their latest weapon systems.

More than 60 official delegations including China are participating in the exhibition, the Ministry of Defence said.

Foreign firms participating in the event are mainly from Russia, France, Israel, Germany, Italy, USA and UK.

Israel is the biggest participating country in terms of indoor space occupied (1,293 sq meters) while Russia is represented with the maximum number of 37 companies. It will showcase for the first time a prototype model of its new T-90S tank as the gem of the show apart from other defence equipment.

Indian exhibitors include the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), BrahMos Aerospace and other major companies like Tatas, Punj Lloyd, L&T and Mahindra.

Boeing's P-8I multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft, C-17 Globemaster III strategic lift airlifter, the heavy lift CH-47F Chinook helicopter, the combat-proven AH-64D Apache attack helicopter and weapons will be on outdoor display.

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) is the event manager.

The exhibition generates attention globally and has carved a niche amongst major defence exhibitions around the world.