India and Singapore Begin 33rd SIMBEX in Visakhapatnam

The 33rd Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise, SIMBEX-2026, commenced on 21 October 2026 in Visakhapatnam. Hosted by the Indian Navy, the six-day exercise is scheduled to conclude on 26 October. The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) ship RSS Supreme arrived to participate.

SIMBEX and bilateral naval cooperation

SIMBEX began in 1994 as Exercise Lion King and has expanded in scope and complexity. It is a bilateral naval exercise conducted by the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy. The opening ceremony for the 2026 edition was held aboard Indian Navy ships INS Nilgiri and INS Kamorta on 21 October. Senior officers at the ceremony included Rear Admiral Manoj Jha, Chief Staff Officer (Operations) of the Eastern Naval Command, and Colonel Bertram Ang, Fleet Commander of the Republic of Singapore Navy. The exercise’s stated objectives include strengthening maritime cooperation, improving operational interoperability and addressing shared maritime security challenges.

Phases and naval operations

SIMBEX-2026 comprises a Harbour Phase from 21 to 23 October and a Sea Phase from 24 to 26 October. The Sea Phase is scheduled in the Bay of Bengal, a northeastern arm of the Indian Ocean. The Harbour Phase includes professional interactions, subject matter expert exchanges, cross-deck visits, sporting engagements and planning conferences. Cross-deck visits allow personnel to visit ships operated by the other navy. The Sea Phase includes maritime operations, tactical manoeuvres and seamanship evolutions. Planned warfare activities include anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare and anti-air warfare drills. ASW refers to naval operations to detect, track and counter submarines. Anti-surface warfare targets surface vessels, while anti-air warfare addresses airborne threats.

Maritime security and the Indo-Pacific

The exercise takes place in the Indo-Pacific, a region spanning the Indian and Pacific Ocean areas. Its stated objectives include promoting peace and stability in the region. The Eastern Naval Command is one of the Indian Navy’s operational commands and is headquartered in Visakhapatnam.

Important Facts for Exams

:

• SIMBEX began in 1994 under the name Exercise Lion King.
• The 2026 edition is the 33rd Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise.
• The Harbour Phase runs from 21 to 23 October 2026.
• The Sea Phase is scheduled in the Bay of Bengal from 24 to 26 October 2026.

INS Nilgiri and INS Kamorta hosted the opening ceremony on 21 October 2026. RSS Supreme is the participating ship of the Republic of Singapore Navy.