India and Singapore have commenced the 33rd edition of the Singapore–India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX 2026), strengthening their longstanding naval cooperation and operational interoperability. The exercise began at Visakhapatnam on October 21, 2026, and will continue until October 26, with a series of professional engagements and maritime operations designed to enhance coordination between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).
According to the Indian Navy’s announcement reported on October 21, the exercise will include anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface operations, air defence drills, seamanship activities and tactical manoeuvres. The sea phase, scheduled from October 24 to 26 in the Bay of Bengal, will provide participating naval forces with opportunities to conduct coordinated operations in a maritime environment.
SIMBEX is one of the longest-running bilateral naval exercises involving India and Singapore. Since its inception in 1994, the exercise has evolved into an important platform for strengthening maritime security cooperation, exchanging operational expertise and improving the ability of both navies to operate together.
SIMBEX 2026 Begins with Harbour Phase at Visakhapatnam
The opening phase of SIMBEX 2026 is being conducted at Visakhapatnam, where naval personnel from India and Singapore are participating in professional interactions, operational discussions and joint planning activities. The harbour phase provides an opportunity for the two navies to exchange knowledge, familiarise themselves with operational procedures and prepare for the subsequent sea phase.
The programme includes subject matter expert exchanges, cross-deck visits, sporting engagements and planning conferences. These activities are intended to strengthen professional relationships among participating personnel while developing a shared understanding of naval operational requirements.
The opening ceremony was reportedly conducted aboard INS Nilgiri and INS Kamorta, marking the formal commencement of the bilateral exercise. The Republic of Singapore Navy’s RSS Supreme arrived at Visakhapatnam on October 21 to participate in the programme.
The harbour interactions will establish the foundation for the maritime exercises scheduled in the Bay of Bengal, where participating naval units will undertake coordinated operational training.
Anti-Submarine Warfare to Form a Major Component of Sea Phase
The sea phase of SIMBEX 2026, scheduled for October 24–26, will focus on complex maritime operations involving anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, air defence and tactical manoeuvres. These activities are intended to strengthen operational coordination between participating naval units and improve their ability to function together in different maritime scenarios.
Anti-submarine warfare remains an important component of modern naval operations because submarines can operate covertly across extensive maritime areas. Effective underwater surveillance requires coordination among surface warships, maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters and specialised detection systems.
The Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy have developed substantial experience in conducting such exercises through successive editions of SIMBEX. Earlier exercises have involved submarines, maritime patrol aircraft and naval helicopters, providing opportunities to strengthen operational familiarity across different platforms.
During SIMBEX 2024, the two navies conducted anti-submarine warfare activities alongside air defence, gunnery and other maritime operations. The exercise included Indian naval assets such as INS Shivalik, a Sindhughosh-class submarine, a P-8I maritime patrol aircraft and MiG-29K fighter aircraft. Singapore participated with RSS Tenacious and an embarked S-70B Seahawk naval helicopter.
The continuation of anti-submarine warfare training during SIMBEX 2026 reflects the importance both navies attach to strengthening underwater operational awareness and maritime security cooperation.
INS Nilgiri and INS Kamorta Highlight India’s Indigenous Naval Capabilities
The reported involvement of INS Nilgiri and INS Kamorta in the opening ceremony highlights the Indian Navy’s growing fleet of indigenously designed and manufactured warships.
INS Nilgiri is the lead ship of the Project 17A class of stealth frigates, developed to undertake multiple maritime missions. The frigate incorporates modern sensors, weapons and combat management capabilities designed to support anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine operations.
INS Kamorta is an indigenously built anti-submarine warfare corvette developed under Project 28. The vessel is designed for underwater surveillance, submarine detection and associated naval operations. Its construction represents an important achievement in India’s indigenous warship-building programme.
The Republic of Singapore Navy’s RSS Supreme is a Formidable-class frigate equipped for modern maritime operations. Singapore’s Ministry of Defence has previously confirmed the warship’s participation in SIMBEX 2025, demonstrating its established role in bilateral naval engagements with India.
The interaction between modern Indian and Singaporean naval platforms supports the broader objective of improving interoperability, operational familiarity and cooperation between the two maritime forces.
Three Decades of India–Singapore Maritime Cooperation
The Singapore–India Maritime Bilateral Exercise began in 1994 under the name Exercise Lion King. Over the following three decades, it developed into a regular bilateral naval engagement involving increasingly complex maritime operations.
The exercise initially focused on developing professional relationships and strengthening operational understanding between the two navies. Its scope subsequently expanded to include anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, air defence, maritime surveillance and coordinated naval manoeuvres.
A significant development occurred during the 30th edition of SIMBEX in 2023, when both navies deployed submarines for the first time during the exercise. The engagement also included the signing of joint standard operating procedures related to submarine rescue, further strengthening cooperation in specialised underwater operations.
The 32nd edition, conducted in 2025, continued this tradition of cooperation. Singapore deployed RSS Supreme and RSS Vigilance, while the Indian Navy participated with INS Satpura. The exercise reinforced operational coordination and highlighted the longstanding professional relationship between the two maritime forces.
SIMBEX 2026 continues this established series of bilateral engagements, providing another opportunity for naval personnel to develop their operational skills and strengthen institutional cooperation.
Strengthening Maritime Security in the Bay of Bengal and Indo-Pacific
India and Singapore occupy important geographical positions along major maritime trade routes connecting the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal and Southeast Asia. Their economic and strategic interests are closely linked to the security of international shipping lanes and the stability of the wider Indo-Pacific maritime environment.
The Bay of Bengal provides an important operational setting for bilateral naval exercises because of its maritime connectivity and its role in linking India’s eastern seaboard with Southeast Asian waters.
Regular engagements such as SIMBEX allow the two navies to improve their understanding of regional operating conditions while strengthening coordination in maritime surveillance, tactical operations and naval communication.
The exercise also contributes to broader defence relations between India and Singapore, which include military training, professional exchanges and cooperation across different branches of their armed forces.
Through sustained engagement, both countries continue to strengthen their ability to address common maritime security challenges and contribute to a stable regional maritime environment.
SIMBEX 2026 Reinforces India’s Naval Partnerships in the Indo-Pacific
The 33rd edition of SIMBEX represents another important chapter in the maritime relationship between India and Singapore. The exercise combines professional engagements with operational training to strengthen interoperability, develop mutual understanding and enhance cooperation across different areas of naval warfare.
The focus on anti-submarine warfare, air defence and coordinated maritime manoeuvres reflects the increasingly sophisticated nature of bilateral naval exercises. Such engagements help participating personnel improve their operational capabilities while strengthening professional relationships developed over decades of cooperation.
For India, SIMBEX complements the Indian Navy’s wider programme of international maritime engagements and reinforces its commitment to maintaining constructive defence partnerships across the Indo-Pacific.
The continued expansion of India–Singapore naval cooperation demonstrates the importance both countries attach to maritime security, professional interoperability and a peaceful, stable and rules-based maritime environment.
References
1. Ministry of Defence, Singapore
Singapore and Indian Navies Conclude Annual Maritime Bilateral Exercise.
Published: August 2, 2025.
Official confirmation of SIMBEX 2025, the 32nd edition, and participating naval platforms.
https://www.mindef.gov.sg/news-and-events/latest-releases/02aug25-nr
2. Ministry of Defence, Singapore
Singapore and Indian Navies Conclude Annual Maritime Bilateral Exercise.
Published: October 29, 2024.
Official information on anti-submarine warfare, air defence and maritime operational cooperation.
https://www.mindef.gov.sg/news-and-events/latest-releases/29oct24_nr
3. Ministry of Defence, Singapore
Singapore and Indian Navies Commemorate 30th Edition of Bilateral Maritime Exercise.
Published: September 21, 2023.
Official information on the history of SIMBEX, submarine participation and bilateral naval cooperation.
https://www.mindef.gov.sg/news-and-events/latest-releases/21sep23_nr
4. Indian Navy
Official website: https://indiannavy.gov.in/
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