Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated the India’s mega defence exhibition – the DefExpo – in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu. The expo will see participation of major global and domestic military firms, which are eyeing billions of dollars of contract as part of the country’s military modernisation programme.

The theme of the expo is ‘India: The Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub’.

Speaking at the inauguration of Defense Expo 2018, the Prime Minister said, “I am delighted and overwhelmed to see an enthusiastic gathering in this historic region of Kanchipuram in the great State of Tamil Nadu. It is wonderful to see over 500 India companies along with over 150 foreign companies present here. Today we live in an interconnected world, the efficiency of supply chain is a key factor in any manufacturing enterprise. Our procedures for defence procurement have been made simpler.”

“Our commitment to peace is just as strong as our commitment to protecting our people & our territory. For this, we are ready to take all necessary measures to equip our Armed Forces.

We have de-notified some items earlier made exclusively by Ordnance Factories, so that private sector, especially MSMEs can enter this space,” he added in a speech he gave in English.

“We are conscious that defence manufacturing is unique in terms of government involvement. You need the government to grant a license to manufacture. Since the government is almost the only buyer, you need the government to grant an order. You need the government even to grant permission to export,” Modi said.

“Over the last few years, we have made a humble beginning. On defence manufacturing licenses, on defence offsets, on defence exports clearances, on Foreign Direct Investment in defence manufacturing, and on reforming our defence procurement, we have taken many steps,” he added.

The four-day DefExpo, on the outskirts of Chennai and close to the temple town of Mahabalipuram, began on Wednesday but was formally inaugurated on Thursday.

The NDA government is trying to project the 10th edition of the event as first serious attempt to transform India — the largest importer of military platforms and weapons — into a hub of military manufacturing.

India is expected to spend close to USD 300 billion in the next five years in procuring defence equipment and almost all major global defence firms are eyeing a slice of it.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in a tweet, had said “For the first time, India will be showcasing its defence export potential at @DefExpoIndia.”

According to the Defence Ministry, over 670 defence firms, including 154 foreign manufacturers, are participating in the exhibition of weapons and military hardware.

It is being attended by official delegations from over 47 countries, including the US, the UK, Russia, Afghanistan, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Madagascar, Myanmar, Nepal, Portugal, Seychelles and Vietnam.

Major international companies, which are participating at the expo include Lockheed Martin, Boeing (US), Saab (Sweden), Airbus, Rafael (France), Rosonboron Exports, United Shipbuilding (Russia), BAE Systems (UK), Sibat (Israel), Wartsila (Finland) and Rhode and Schwarz (Germany).

India’s indigenously developed land, air and naval systems are also being showcased.

The weapons and platforms being displayed include the Tejas fighter jets, advanced towed artillery gun systems (ATAGS) designed by the DRDO Arjun Mark 2 tank and Dhanush artillery guns.

The DRDO’s exhibits include the Nirbhay missile system with launcher, autonomous unmanned ground vehicle (AUGV), MBT Arjun Mk-I tank, Astra missile, low level transportable radar (LLTR) system, medium power radar (MPR) system and Varunastra — heavy weight anti submarine electric torpedo.

The exhibition is spread over an area of 2.90 lakh square feet.

(With agency inputs)