US and DEFEXPO-08

·         On Feb 17, 2008  Charge D Affaires of US Embassy Steven J. White shared that US is closely interested in strengthening bilateral relationship with India; a large American delegation (46 American companies) in Indian DEFEXPO-08 is a perfect example

·         White said: "We have provided C130J Hercules transport aircraft to the Indian Air Force and it shows we are ready to do business with India."
The US delegation is the largest at the DEFEXPO-08 with 46 American companies participating in it followed by 43 Russian companies.

·         Lockheed Martin, the largest defence supplier to Pentagon, announced establishing its Indian subsidiary, headed by Douglas Hartwick, former US Ambassador to Laos.

·         The company was recently awarded one billion dollar contract to supply six (C-130J) military transport planes.

·         Lockheed Martin President South Asia, Richard G. Kirkland, said that supply of C130J Hercules transport aircraft to the IAF is first in the field of defence cooperation.

·         Lockheed and another US aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, are in the competition, along with European and Russian companies, to supply India with more than 100 new fighter jets.

·         The DEFEXPO India exhibition, which began in 1999 with 197 exhibitors, has grown to one of the most internationally recognised defence exhibitions in the world, with a total of 475 exhibitors, of which foreign exhibitors are 273 and Indian exhibitors are 202.

·         For the first time in DEFEXPO-08 both Telecom and IT companies  are showcasing their products and services.

·         Countries participating include Australia, Belarus, Australia, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Norway, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Netherlands, UAE, UK, Ukraine and the US.