The Eastern Naval Command here hosts the 31st Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) until October 29. There are two stages to the exercise: the Harbour Phase in Visakhapatnam from October 23 to 25, and the Sea Phase, which will take place in the Bay of Bengal from October 28 to 29.
Participating units from the Singapore Navy and Eastern Fleet attended the opening ceremony to officially launch SIMBEX24 aboard INS Shivalik.
SIMBEX, which began as ‘Exercise Lion King’ in 1994, is a bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).
RSN ship RSS Tenacious with embarked helicopter, arrived at ENC on October 23 for participating in SIMBEX2024.
This year’s edition aims to further strengthen the strategic partnership between India and Singapore by enhancing interoperability, improving maritime domain awareness, and fostering cooperation to address common maritime challenges.
The Harbour Phase will include Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs), cross-deck visits, sports fixtures, and pre-sail briefings between personnel from both navies. The Sea Phase will witness advanced naval drills, including live weapon firings, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training, anti-surface and anti-air operations, seamanship evolutions, and tactical manoeuvres.
