New Delhi: With the Defence Ministry wanting more than Rs 25,000 crore outlay for armament acquisitions, international weapons majors are making an unprecedented beeline for the 4th Indian Defence Expo beginning on February 4.

Major armament companies like Raytheon, Lockheed-Martin, Boeing from US (United States), DCN International and Dassault from France, British Aerospace and Rolls Royce from UK (United Kingdom) and a number of companies from South Africa, Israel, Germany and Sweden have confirmed participation in the four-day expo, which would be inaugurated by Defence Minister George Fernandes.

Leading the pack are the Israeli Defence industries, which have over the past three years bagged contracts worth more than $ 2 billion selling to India, the Travor range of infantry arms, high and medium altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, in which Tel Aviv is the world leader, as well as anti-infiltration devices like unattended ground sensors.

More than 300 companies from 11 countries will take part in this year's four-day international expo.

The UK, which recently bagged the lucrative Rs 800 crore Advanced Jet Trainer contract, will have the largest participation of over 37 companies followed by Israel, South Africa and France.

The Expo will have Ministerial and senior-level official Defence delegations from more than 20 countries.