New Delhi, Oct 27 Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX), hosted by the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, served as an important platform for bolstering bilateral maritime cooperation, operational interoperability and professional engagement between the two countries, the defence ministry said on Tuesday.
The exercise, which concluded on October 26, also demonstrated the commitment of both nations to enhancing maritime security and promoting stability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), it said.
SIMBEX 2026 witnessed the participation of Republic of Singapore Navy ship RSS Supreme, a Formidable-class stealth frigate with an embarked SH-70B helicopter.
The Indian Navy was represented by the indigenously built stealth frigate INS Nilgiri, ASW corvette INS Kamorta and participating aviation assets, including P-8I and Dornier maritime patrol aircraft, Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers and MH-60R helicopters, the ministry said in a statement.
The exercise has served as an “important platform for strengthening bilateral maritime cooperation, operational interoperability and professional engagement between India and Singapore”, it said.
The 33rd edition of the SIMBEX was hosted by the Navy at Visakhapatnam from October 21-26.
“The exercise further strengthened the longstanding maritime cooperation and operational engagement between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN),” it said.
As part of the bilateral engagement, Col Bertram Ang, Fleet Commander of the RSN, called on Rear Admiral Vishal Bishnoi, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, and exchanged professional views on strengthening maritime cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss matters of mutual interest.
SIMBEX 2026 was conducted in two phases. The harbour phase featured subject matter expert exchanges (SMEEs), cross-deck visits, professional interactions, sporting engagements and planning conferences, facilitating the exchange of operational knowledge and enhancing mutual understanding.
The sea phase in the Bay of Bengal involved maritime interdiction operations, anti-submarine warfare, anti-air warfare and anti-surface warfare drills, seamanship evolutions and cross-deck flying operations, enhancing coordination and interoperability between the participating forces.
(PTI News)
