From October 26 to October 30, 2022, Visakhapatnam will play host to the 29th Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX).
The two phases of SIMBEX-2022 are the Harbour Phase at Visakhapatnam (October 26–27, 2022) and the Sea Phase in the Bay of Bengal (October 28–30, 2022).
On October 25, 2022, RSS Stalwart (a Formidable Class Frigate) and RSS Vigilance (a Victory Class Corvette), two ships from the Republic of Singapore Navy, arrived in Visakhapatnam to take part in the exercise.
On October 25, 2022, Vice Admiral Biswajeet Dasgupta, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, and Rear Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet received a visit from Rear Admiral Sean Wat Jianwen, Fleet Commander, Republic of Singapore Navy. Discussions about topics of common interest took place during the meetings.
During the Harbour Phase, there were numerous professional and recreational interactions between the two navies, including cross-deck visits, SMEEs, and planning sessions.
Exercise Lion King was the original name for the SIMBEX series of exercises, which debuted in 1994. Over the past two decades, the exercise’s complexity and scope have significantly increased to include cutting-edge naval drills that cover a variety of maritime operations.
The exercise is a prime example of India and Singapore’s intense maritime cooperation. It also emphasises the two countries’ dedication and support for boosting maritime security in the Indian Ocean region.
