Defexpo opens, companies eye India's defence market

AIMING HIGH: India has become a lucrative market for major defence equipment suppliers.

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New Delhi: India's plans to spend more than $2 billion to acquire 700 artillery guns is creating the biggest buzz at fifth Defexpo 2008.

Defexpo 2008 is a Land and Naval Systems exhibition that opened on Saturday in New Delhi's Pragati Maidan and was inaugurated by Union Defence Minister AK Antony.

Nearly 300 firms are participating and among them foreign contractor like BAE Systems is pushing its ultra light Howitzer.

Also on show is Israel's Soltam that had earlier upgraded the army's 130mm guns.

United States of America is the biggest exhibitor and hopes to cash in on some big-ticket deals with India including fighter jets and helicopters.

A prominent American presence at Expo also hinted at a further consolidation of Indo-US military ties.

"It's tremendously important. This is the largest contingent we've ever had in India and it's the reflection of our relationship with India which continues to grow," Steven White said.

The Expo has been organised by the Ministry of Defence in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and will end on February 19 (Tuesday).