Defence Expo 2018: India to showcase its defence manufacturing capabilities. Know what to watch out for

The 10th edition of Defence Expo will be held in Chennai from 11 to 14 April 2018. For the first time, the DefExpo will project India's Defence manufacturing capabilities to the world. With a tagline 'India: The Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub', the DefExpo will help brand India as a defence exporter of defence systems and components. While showcasing strengths of India’s substantial public sector, it will also uncover India’s growing private industry and spreading MSME base for components and sub-systems.

671 exhibitors have confirmed to be a part of the expo, which includes 517 Indian exhibitors and 154 international exhibitors. Nearly 15% of the total exhibition space has been booked by MSMEs. Indian participation includes majors like Tata, L&T, Kalyani, Bharat Forge, Mahindra, MKU, DRDO, HAL, BEL, BDL, BEML, MDL, GRSE, GSL, HSL, MIDHANI, Ordnance Factories, and many others.

Major international companies include Lockheed Martin, Boeing (USA), Saab (Sweden), Airbus, Rafael (France), Rosonboron Exports, United Shipbuilding (Russia), BAE Systems (UK), Sibat (Israel), Wartsila (Finland), Rhode and Schwarz (Germany) among many others.

47 official delegations from different countries have also confirmed their participation out of which 13 of these delegations are at Ministerial level. 

Organised by the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is the main implementing agency with support from Government of Tamil Nadu. 

The main highlights of the event include a first of its kind National Level Open Challenge Competition– "Solution to Problem" aimed to finding solutions to the defence related problems by Innovators, Students, Professionals, Participants and Foreign Nationals.

For the first time, India Pavilion is being set up at the event to showcase the combined strength of the country's public sector and private sector in defence production. There will be a combined live display of Naval, Aero and Land Systems at the venue.

The inaugural ceremony will be webcast on social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Periscope, etc. and also to live audiences in Indian Embassies across the world. 

Two major international collaboration events are being held on the sidelines on DefExpo including - Joint Commission with South Korea on April 9, 2018 in Delhi and Military-Industry Cooperation with Russia on April 13, 2018.