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32nd India–Singapore Naval Exercise ‘SIMBEX’ Held in Singapore from July 28 to August 1, 2025.

International | Dated: 01 Aug 2025

The 32nd edition of the Singapore‑India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) was held from 28 July to 1 August 2025 in Singapore—marking India’s longest‑uninterrupted annual naval exercise with any country. The exercise, conducted jointly by the Indian Navy (IN) and Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), reaffirmed deep maritime ties and strategic cooperation between the two nations.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - On this occasion, the IN deployed four frontline indigenously built warships—INS Delhi (guided-missile destroyer), INS Satpura (Shivalik-class frigate), INS Kiltan (anti-submarine corvette), and INS Shakti (fleet support tanker)—all key platforms of India’s Eastern Fleet. The RSN contributed two key warships: Formidable-class frigate RSS Supreme and Victory-class corvette RSS Vigilance, supported by fleet support vessel MV Mentor.
  • - The exercise followed a two-phase format: an intense Harbour Phase at RSS Singapura (Changi Naval Base) featuring joint staff talks, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs), cross-deck ship visits, and simulator-based tactical planning; followed by the Sea Phase in the southern reaches of the South China Sea, involving advanced live drills including air-defence, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, cross-deck helicopter ops, and Visit‑Board‑Search‑Seizure (VBSS) operations. The sea phase concluded with a formal sail‑past ceremony.
  • - Viewed through the lens of India’s strategy, SIMBEX 2025 reinforced the country’s Act East Policy and the Vision SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region) initiative. The drill coincided with the 60th anniversary of India‑Singapore diplomatic ties, underscoring shared maritime interests and a joint pledge to maintain a stable, rules-based maritime order.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) Senior Naval officials lauded the exercise as a platform for honing interoperability, enhancing maritime domain awareness, and refining joint operational doctrines. SIMBEX continues to contribute significantly to regional security architecture by preparing participating forces for real-world scenarios, including Search and Rescue (SAR) and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
  • (ii) SIMBEX, initiated in 1994 as "Exercise Lion King", is now the longest continuous bilateral naval exercise India conducts with a partner nation.
  • (iii) Its 32nd edition further strengthened professional camaraderie between the navies and sets the stage for India’s leadership role in future multilateral engagements such as the International Fleet Review, Multinational Exercise MILAN, and the IONS Conclave of Chiefs in Visakhapatnam in early 2026.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Recently, the 32nd edition of the India–Singapore bilateral naval exercise SIMBEX 2025 was held in which country?

Correct Answer: Singapore

🚀 Quick Recap:

About Singapore

  • President : Tharman Shanmugaratnam
  • Prime Minister (PM) : Lawrence Wong