PIB: Indian Navy is scheduled to host the 27th edition of India – Singapore Bilateral Maritime Exercise SIMBEX-20 starting today in Andaman Sea. The bilateral exercise will continue till 25th of this month.
The SIMBEX series of exercises between Indian Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy conducted annually since 1994. The exercise is aimed at enhancing mutual inter-operability and imbibing best practices from each other.
The scope and complexity of these exercises has increased steadily over the past two decades to include advanced naval drills covering a wide spectrum of maritime operations. The 2020 edition of SIMBEX will witness participation by Indian Navy ships including destroyer Rana with integral Chetak helicopter and indigenously built corvettes Kamorta and Karmuk.
According to a press release of India’s Ministry of Defence, the exercise, being conducted as a ‘non-contact, at sea only’ exercise in view of COVID-19 pandemic, highlights the high degree of mutual trust and confidence, synergy and cooperation in the maritime domain between the two friendly navies and maritime neighbours.
SIMBEX-20 will witness the two friendly navies participate in advanced surface, anti-air warfare and anti-submarine warfare exercises including weapon firings, over three days of intensive joint operations at sea. The exercises also works towards enhancing the overall maritime security in the region and highlight their commitment to a rules-based international order.
SIMBEX-20 starts today a day after SITMEX-20, a Trilateral Maritime Exercise between India, Singapore and Thailand concluded yesterday. The first edition of SITMEX, hosted by Indian Navy, was conducted off Port Blair in September 2019.
The SITMEX series of exercises are conducted to enhance mutual interoperability and imbibing best practices between IN, Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and Royal Thai Navy (RTN). The 2020 edition of the exercise is being hosted by RSN.
Dr. Niranjan B Poojar 
Balaji Subramanian