SIMBEX

Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) is an annual bilateral naval exercise conducted by the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).

History
The exercise has been held annually since 1994.

Over the years, SIMBEX has progressed beyond its original emphasis on anti-submarine warfare to include elements of maritime security, anti-air, and anti-surface warfare. Harbour phases include various planning conferences and simulator-based warfare training/ wargaming. In a statement, the Indian High Commission in Singapore in 2019 stated that "SIMBEX is the longest uninterrupted naval exercise that India has with any other country".

Simbex-2019 took place on the South China Sea and included maritime combat exercises such as firing exercises, tracking exercises, and coordinated tactical exercises.

The 28th edition of SIMBEX took place from September 02 to 04, 2021 in the southern fringes of the South China Sea. The Indian Navy was represented by destroyer INS Ranvijay with a ship borne helicopter, corvettes INS Kiltan and INS Kora and one P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft. The RSN was represented by Formidable Class Frigate, RSS Steadfast, embarked with an S-70B naval helicopter, one Victory Class Missile Corvette, RSS Vigour, one Archer Class Submarine and one Fokker-50 Maritime Patrol Aircraft. Four F-16 fighter aircraft of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) also participated in the exercise during the Air Defence Drills.