KOCHI: The 33rd edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX-2026) commenced at Visakhapatnam on October 21, 2026, marking over three decades of robust naval partnership between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). Republic of Singapore Navy Ship RSS Supreme arrived at Visakhapatnam to participate in the strategic engagement, which runs through October 26, 2026.The opening ceremony was hosted onboard Indian Naval Ships INS Nilgiri and INS Kamorta on October 21, in the presence of the Chief Staff Officer (Operations) of Eastern Naval Command, the Fleet Commander of the RSN, and senior naval officers from both nations.First held in 1994 as Exercise Lion King, SIMBEX has evolved from basic antisubmarine training into a highly complex, multi-domain bilateral exercise. SIMBEX-2026 is structured into two distinct phases:Harbour Phase – Included Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs), cross-deck visits, operational planning conferences, and joint sporting events to build camaraderie.Sea Phase – Underway in the Bay of Bengal, featuring advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), anti-surface and anti-air warfare drills, seamanship evolutions, and coordinated tactical maneuvers.
SIMBEX-2026 underscores the enduring maritime synergy between India and Singapore, reinforcing their mutual resolve to counter shared security challenges and uphold stability across the Indo-Pacific region.
