The 33rd Singapore–India Maritime Bilateral Exercise, SIMBEX-2026, is under way at Visakhapatnam from 21 to 26 Oct 2026. Singapore Navy ship RSS Supreme reached the port on 21 Oct 2026 for the engagement.
Senior officers of both navies attended the opening of SIMBEX-2026 aboard INS Nilgiri and INS Kamorta on 21 Oct 2026. Those present included the Eastern Naval Command’s Chief Staff Officer for Operations and the Republic of Singapore Navy’s Fleet Commander.
The engagement began in 1994 under the name Exercise Lion King. Its scope and complexity have expanded over time, giving the Indian and Singapore navies a continuing platform to develop professional relationships, understand one another’s procedures and improve their ability to operate together.
Harbour activities run from 21 to 23 Oct 2026. They include specialist exchanges, cross-deck visits, sports, professional discussions and operational planning. The sea phase is scheduled from 24 to 26 Oct 2026 in the Bay of Bengal, covering anti-submarine, anti-surface and anti-air warfare training alongside seamanship and tactical manoeuvres.
SIMBEX-2026 continues the two countries’ established maritime partnership. The exercise is intended to strengthen interoperability, support cooperation on shared security challenges and contribute to peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific.