HIT PARADE: (Clockwise from top left) Mahindra AXE, Ashok Leyland Stallion 6x6, Mahindra Marksman, Tata 8x8 and BAE Systems G31. Indian automobile majors will vie with global defence companies in the new combat vehicles space

BAE will be one of the 300-odd global arms makers and dealers who are headed for Pragati Maidan in Delhi to showcase their wares to the country that is one of the biggest buyers of war machines in the world right now.

The expo, scheduled for February 16-19, will also see the nascent domestic defence industry putting up a fight for attention amid the dazzling array of war apparatus brought by companies from 30 countries, including the big daddies of arms trade — BAE Systems, EADS, Rosoboronexport, General Dynamics, and Israel Military Industries.

Importantly, the participation of Indian private sector companies will rise to 50 per cent this time compared with less than 40 per cent at DefExpo06, according to Wing Commander Mayaskar Deo Singh of the Defence Exhibition Organisation, the wing of Indian defence ministry that organises the show. Tata Group will lead the Indian private sector at the expo with 15 of its companies in diverse businesses such as combat vehicles, special materials, and teleco- mmunication.

Though much of the private presence at the show will be of the companies that deal in minor items such as bullet-proof vests and plates, display panels, camouflage tents and garments, the automobile majors will put up a sterling show by introducing new home-made combat vehicles. In fact, combat vehicles will vie with artillery and battle-zone communication systems for glamour points at the expo.