New Delhi: India and Singapore commenced the 33rd Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (Simbex – 2026) in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, with joint naval operations scheduled in the Bay of Bengal. The six-day exercise, continuing until October 26, will include anti-submarine-, anti-surface- and anti-air-warfare drills aimed at strengthening operational interoperability between the two navies.
The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) frigate RSS Supreme arrived in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday. The opening ceremony was held aboard INS Nilgiri, an indigenous stealth frigate, and INS Kamorta, an anti-submarine-warfare corvette.
Rear Admiral Manoj Jha, chief staff officer (Operations) at the Eastern Naval Command, and Colonel Bertram Ang, fleet commander of the RSN, attended the ceremony alongside senior officers from both navies.
From harbour coordination to maritime warfare drills
The harbour phase, from October 21 to 23, includes professional interactions, subject matter expert exchanges (SMEEs), cross-deck visits, sporting engagements and planning conferences. These activities allow naval personnel to exchange operational practices and coordinate procedures before conducting exercises at sea.
The sea phase, scheduled from October 24 to 26, will involve anti-submarine-warfare (ASW) operations, anti-surface- and anti-air-warfare drills, seamanship exercises and tactical manoeuvres.
Anti-submarine operations involve detecting and tracking underwater threats, while anti-surface and anti-air-warfare exercises focus on responding to hostile ships and aerial threats. Such drills help naval crews improve communication, coordinated responses and tactical decision-making.
“Simbex – 2026 aims to strengthen maritime cooperation and enhance operational interoperability between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy,” Captain Gurudeep Bala, commanding officer of INS Nilgiri, told reporters.
Three decades of India-Singapore naval cooperation
Simbex began in 1994 as Exercise Lion King, initially focusing on anti-submarine warfare. Its inaugural edition involved two Singaporean missile corvettes, RSS victory and RSS valour, and an Indian submarine.
The exercise subsequently expanded to include surface and air warfare, with revised standard operating procedures adopted in 2006 to support more complex maritime operations.
The 32nd edition was conducted in Singapore in 2025, involving INS Satpura and Singaporean warships, including RSS Supreme.
Over three decades, Simbex has evolved into one of the longest-running bilateral naval engagements between India and Singapore.
The latest edition aims to strengthen professional ties, mutual understanding and operational interoperability while reinforcing both countries’ commitment to addressing common maritime security challenges and promoting stability in the Indo-Pacific.