The SIMBEX-2026 sea phase in the Bay of Bengal brought the 33rd edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise to a close on Monday, after warships, aircraft and helicopters of the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) trained together at sea.

The Indian Navy hosted this edition. It ran from 21 to 26 October.

On the sidelines, Colonel Bertram Ang, Fleet Commander of the RSN, called on Rear Admiral Vishal Bishnoi, Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Fleet. According to the Navy, the two officers exchanged professional views on strengthening maritime cooperation between India and Singapore and discussed matters of mutual interest.

SIMBEX-2026 sea phase tested submarine, air and surface warfare

During the SIMBEX-2026 sea phase, the two navies carried out Maritime Interdiction Operations, the boarding and checking of suspect vessels.

They also ran Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Air Warfare and Anti-Surface Warfare drills. Seamanship evolutions followed, along with cross-deck flying, in which helicopters operated from the other navy's ships. The Navy said the drills improved coordination and interoperability between the two forces.

RSS Supreme sailed with INS Nilgiri and INS Kamorta

Singapore sent RSS Supreme, a Formidable-class stealth frigate, with an SH-70B helicopter embarked. It is the sixth and last ship of its class and was launched in 2006.

The Indian side fielded the indigenously built stealth frigate INS Nilgiri and the ASW corvette INS Kamorta. INS Nilgiri is the lead ship of Project 17A and was commissioned in January 2025. INS Kamorta is the first of the Project 28 corvettes, built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in Kolkata.

Four Indian aircraft types flew in the drills

Indian aviation assets included P-8I and Dornier maritime patrol aircraft, Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers and MH-60R helicopters.

Indian P-8Is also flew at RIMPAC 2026 off Hawaii earlier this year. The MH-60R is among the Navy's newest helicopters, and another of the type was handed over at Kochi in July.

Harbour phase at Visakhapatnam came first

Before the ships sailed, crews spent the Harbour Phase at Visakhapatnam. It included Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs), cross-deck visits, professional engagements, sporting events and planning meetings. The Navy said these helped the two sides share operational knowledge and understand each other better.

The exercise had opened on 21 October, when RSS Supreme arrived in port and the opening ceremony was held aboard INS Nilgiri and INS Kamorta.

SIMBEX began as Exercise Lion King in 1994

The 2026 edition was the 33rd.

Singapore hosted the 32nd edition from 28 July to 1 August 2025, when India sent the Shivalik-class frigate INS Satpura and RSS Supreme also took part. The 31st edition ran from 23 to 29 October 2024. Singapore's Ministry of Defence describes SIMBEX as the longest continuous bilateral naval exercise India has held with any country.