The exhibition, running through February 19, comprises 475 military and technical companies from 30 countries, with Russia being one of the largest representatives among them.
Russian Ambassador to India Vyacheslav Trubnikov, who attended the opening ceremony, said that the exhibition is a unique possibility for Russia to broaden its military and technical cooperation with India.
"It is important that the exhibition opened in the wake of Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov's official visit to India," Trubnikov said.
The Russian prime minister was on an official visit to India this week from February 11 to 13.
Russia's state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport showcases at the exhibition advanced Kalashnikov AK-101, AK-102 (5.56 mm), AK-103 and AK-104 (7.62 mm) assault rifles, the AN-94 Abakan machine-gun, the Bizon-20-1 (9 mm) pistol, the OSV-96 sniper rifle, and night vision devices.
Russia also intends to demonstrate its maintenance and upgrading capabilities for small and light weapons, presenting its specialist training programs and reliability as a supplier of weapons and components, as well as its after sales service.
The Defexpo India exhibition was conceptualized in 1998 to promote defense exports from India and exhibit the capabilities of Indian defense R&D and production. The exhibition, which began in 1999 with 197 exhibitors, has now grown into one of the most recognized international defense exhibitions in the world.
International seminars, especially the India Defense Industry Summit, held as part of the exhibition have evolved into the biannual International Defense Industry Forum.
