DefExpo is India’s flagship exhibition on defence and is one of the largest of its kind, organized by Defence Exhibition Organisation, Ministry of Defence, Government of India. The 12th edition of DefExpo showcasing land, naval and homeland security systems will be held from March 10-13, 2022, at Helipad Exhibition Centre in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. 

Primary focus of the show is to project India as an emerging defence manufacturing hub. Over 900 companies from more than 50 countries are participating in DefExpo 2022. According to officials managing the exhibition, the numbers are expected to increase in the coming days, crossing 1,000 perhaps. From the 900 exhibitors participating in the biennial exhibition, more than 100 are foreign players. Venture capitalists looking at investing in defence start-ups will be thronging the exhibition. 

One of the major highlights of the exhibition is the drone show displaying around 1,000 drones for the second time. The first one was organized at the Beating Retreat in Delhi. The drone show is being organized by Botlab Dynamics, a startup supported by the Indian Institute of Technology and the Department of Science and Technology. Interestingly so far only USA, Russia and China are the other nations that have put together a show with 1,000 drones. India is also firmly in the club with DefExpo 2022. 

Seven new defence firms that came into being from the erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board will be participating in the expo alongside major Indian conglomerates such as Adani and Tata groups.