Raksha Rajya Mantri (RRM) Shri Sanjay Seth will lead a high-level Indian delegation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to participate in the third edition of the World Defense Show (WDS) 2026, scheduled to be held on February 8–9, 2026.
The World Defence Show is expected to host more than 700 exhibitors and around 400 official delegations from across the globe. The Indian delegation will include senior officials from the Department of Defence Production and representatives of the Armed Forces.
Marking a significant milestone in India’s participation, the Raksha Rajya Mantri will inaugurate the first-ever India Pavilion at WDS. Spread across 400 square metres, the pavilion will showcase India’s expanding indigenous capabilities in defence manufacturing and technology. Prominent public sector defence enterprises will be featured, including Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL), Munitions India Limited (MIL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), India Optel Limited (IOL), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Yantra India Limited (YIL). These companies will display a range of products such as tanks, artillery gun systems, missiles, ammunition and radar systems.
On the sidelines of the event, a bilateral meeting is scheduled between the Raksha Rajya Mantri and his Saudi Arabian counterpart. The minister will also interact with representatives of leading Saudi industry bodies to explore opportunities for strengthening defence cooperation and industrial collaboration between the two countries.
The biennial World Defense Show, hosted by Saudi Arabia, is considered strategically important for the Indian defense industry. It provides a global platform to showcase India’s indigenization efforts, advanced technologies and manufacturing strengths, while promoting international partnerships within the global defense ecosystem.
