MOSCOW, April 26. /TASS/. Russia’s Army Forum has turned into the world’s largest arms show, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday.

"Five years ago, when we were developing the event’s concept, we perceived it as the world’s largest exhibition of armament and military hardware aimed at promoting domestic military products and strengthening inter-state cooperation for creating advanced weapons. The idea has materialized," Shoigu said at a meeting with the country’s top brass.

Last year, more than 1,200 enterprises and organizations took part in the forum, showcasing over 26,000 product items and R&D developments. This year, the Defense Ministry expects over 130 states and 1,500 enterprises to attend the forum to demonstrate almost 27,000 military products, Shoigu said.

The organizers of the Army Forum are planning to considerably increase the aviation cluster and exposition on the Syria operation in 2019, the defense minister said.

The Army-2019 Military and Technical Forum will run on June 25-30 at the Patriot Park, the Kubinka airfield and the Alabino range near Moscow.