SIMBEX 2021

Context

Recently, India and Singapore carried out 28th edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX).

About SIMBEX

• Initiated in 1994, SIMBEX is the Indian Navy's longest uninterrupted bilateral maritime exercise with any foreign navy.

28th edition of SIMBEX 

• This edition was a mega naval wargame in the southern fringes of the South China Sea.
• The success of SIMBEX-2021 is yet another demonstration of the mutual resolve on both sides to strengthen the bilateral partnership further in the years ahead.
  • Both navies have a representation in each other's Maritime Information Fusion Centres.
  • India and Singapore have also recently signed an agreement on mutual submarine rescue support and coordination.

Participation of Indian INS

• The Indian Navy deployed its INS for the 'SIMBEX' exercise-

  • Guided-missile destroyer INS Ranvijay with a ship borne helicopter
  • Anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Kiltan
  • Guided-missile corvette INS Kora 
  • One P8I long-range 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.

Participation of Singapore Navy

• The Singapore Navy was represented by 

  • Formidable class frigate RSS Steadfast , embarked with an S-70B naval helicopter
  • Victory class missile corvette RSS Vigour
  • One Archer class submarine 
  • One Fokker-50 maritime patrol aircraft

Key-achievements (despite evolving challenges)

• Despite these constraints during the planning stages, both navies could achieve seamless and safe execution of several challenging evolutions including

  • live weapon firing
  • Advanced naval warfare serials,including 
    • Anti-submarine 
    • Anti-air 
    • Anti-surface warfare drills

• The scale and complexity of the drills is a "testimony" to the interoperability achieved between both Navies.