Singapore and India launch 33rd SIMBEX naval drills in Visakhapatnam

The 33rd Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX-2026) began in Visakhapatnam on October 21, 2026. The exercise will run until October 26. The Republic of Singapore Navy sent the frigate RSS Supreme, which docked in Visakhapatnam for the drills. The opening ceremony took place on board INS Nilgiri and INS Kamorta. Attendees included the Chief Staff Officer (Operations) of the Eastern Naval Command, the Fleet Commander of the RSN and senior officers from both navies. SIMBEX started in 1994 as Exercise Lion King and has grown into a major bilateral engagement. The programme is split into two phases. The Harbour Phase runs from October 21 to 23 and features professional interactions, subject-matter-expert exchanges, cross-deck visits, sporting events and planning conferences. The Sea Phase runs from October 24 to 26 in the Bay of Bengal and includes anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface and anti-air drills, seamanship evolutions and tactical manoeuvres. Officials say the drills reinforce operational interoperability and address shared maritime security challenges. The event underlines the long-standing partnership between India and Singapore and their joint aim of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

Context

SIMBEX is a regular naval exercise that lets India and Singapore practice joint operations and share tactics. Such drills help both forces respond to threats like piracy or submarine activity in the region.