The 13th International Defense Industry Fair opened its doors to defense sector experts today with defense industry giants ready to showcase their products. Istanbul will welcome several international defense industry companies and high-ranking delegations from around 50 countries for three days at the Tüyap Istanbul Fair and Congress Center in Istanbul's Büyükeçekmece district.The world's leading defense companies will present their latest technology from May 9-12. IDEF has been held every two years since 1993 in Turkey with the attendance of both governmental and business sector representatives from around the world. Hosted by the Defense Ministry, the four-day event will be held under the auspices of the presidency of the Republic of Turkey under the management and responsibility of the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation. During the high technology defense industry fair, nearly 800 companies from more than 50 countries will present the latest vehicles, equipment and systems used in the defense, security, maritime, aviation and space industries.Additionally, the fair, which will be held on an area of 5,000 square meters, will host 493 high-level foreign delegates, including ministers, deputy ministers, chiefs of general staff, army commanders and defense procurement officials from 76 countries and international institutions.Over 2,000 pre-arranged meetings and a series of agreements are expected to be made at IDEF 2017.