According to the organisers, more than 700 companies are expected to participate in this year's India Air Show in Bangalore.

The organisers also said that 78 countries will send their delegations to the event compared to 45 countries in the previous year. India's main defence and civil-aviation event is scheduled to begin in Bangalore on Wednesday.

Among the participating countries, the US will have the largest contingent of leading firms including Boeing Co., BA Raytheon Co., Lockheed Martin Corp., Northrop Grumman Corp., Textron Inc.'s Bell Helicopter and Rockwell Collins Inc. US companies are eagerly seeking Indian defense deals valued at billions of dollars in recent times.

Israel will send the second largest contingent to the event after the United Sates, followed by Russia. Israel has merged as the biggest suppliers of defense equipment to India while Russia has been long term partner for the country.

Germany, the U. K., Belgium, Italy, Ukraine, Australia, Japan, Spain, Austria, Norway, Switzerland, Brazil, Sweden, Singapore, Belarus and South Africa are some other countries participating in the event. There will be several aircrafts on display including Boeing's C-17 Globemaster airlifters and Lockheed's F-16 jets.

Aero companies are looking at helicopters, missiles, radar systems, unmanned aerial vehicles and communication equipment this year.