India’s mega defence exhibition — the DefExpo — began in Chennai today with 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 four-day-long event, on the outskirts of Chennai and close to the temple town of Mahabalipuram, will formally be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow.

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.

The theme of the expo is “India: The Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub.”

Addressing media at the Defense Expo-2018, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Indian companies should focus on complete indigenous manufacturing. She added that the Indian entrepreneurs should think beyond automobiles.