Bay of Bengal warfare drills are scheduled to start Oct. 24 and run through Oct. 26, as India and Singapore enter the sea phase of their 33rd naval exercise, India's Ministry of Defence said.
The Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX-2026) began in Visakhapatnam on Oct. 21. The ministry's schedule assigns Oct. 21-23 to the Harbour Phase and Oct. 24-26 to the sea phase.
The Harbour Phase includes cross-deck visits and planning conferences, along with sporting engagements, professional interactions and subject matter expert exchanges, according to the ministry.
At sea, the program is to include maritime operations and tactical exercises. The agenda covers operations against undersea, surface and airborne threats, alongside seamanship evolutions and tactical maneuvers.
RSS Supreme, a Republic of Singapore Navy ship, arrived in Visakhapatnam on Oct. 21. The opening ceremony took place aboard Indian Navy ships INS Nilgiri and INS Kamorta, the ministry said.
The ministry said the exercise is intended to improve coordination between the navies, help them address shared maritime security challenges and support peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. SIMBEX traces its origins to a 1994 exercise called Lion King. The ministry says later editions have broadened the program and built professional ties and mutual understanding between the two navies.
