Ministry of Defence

SIMBEX-18 kicks off at port Blair

Posted On: 10 NOV 2018 7:09PM by PIB Delhi

There are only a few militaries that can boast of continuity and cooperation in the field of maritime
combat drills like the navies of India and Singapore and that too sustained for 25 years. When the
frontline ships of the Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy and those of the Republic of Singapore Navy
(RSN) made their entry into the azure waters of Port Blair in the pristine Andaman and Nicobar
Islands on 10 November 2018, it was a treat for the on lookers. The ships arrived at Port Blair for
the commencement of the 25th edition of the SIMBEX - Singapore India Maritime Bilateral
Exercise. Started as Basic ASW exercises in 1994, today these exercises have graduated to
complex maritime combat drills including missile and torpedo firings and shore based intensive
professional exchanges.

Home to India’s only Tri-Services Command, the crew of the participating warships and the
Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft and integral helicopters, would go through the last minute
exercise coordination details with a fine comb at Port Blair. During the harbour phase, in addition to
operational conferences towards preparation of the sea phase of the exercises in the Andaman
Sea and Bay of Bengal, courtesy calls by both sides on the Senior Officers are also scheduled.
In addition, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges or SMEE as they are commonly known by militaries
worldwide are also scheduled. The SMEEs, have over the years provided a platform to formally
exchange best practices of respective navies so that learning and improvement never ceases.
Cross deck visits by air crew towards deck familiarisation are also planned.
Over the next two days, Port Blair is playing host to Indian Naval Ships Ranvijay, Satpura,
Sahyadri, Shakti, Kirch, Kadmatt, Sumedha and Sukanya along with the RSN Ships, Formidable,
Steadfast, Unity, Valiant and Vigour. Maritime Patrol Aircraft of both countries – the versatile P8I of
the Indian Navy and Fokker F50 from Singapore would also be based out of Port Blair. Local
Flotilla ships based at Port Blair would be ensuring seafront security including in the exercise areas
towards smooth conduct of the exercise.
Also participating in the exercises are RSS Swordsman, an Archer Class submarine and Swift
Rescue, a Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV). While the Indian Navy recently inducted a
DSRV on the western seaboard and is slated to induct another on its eastern seaboard, it
continues to exercise with various navies and assimilate best practices as well as enhance
interoperability.
The exercises at sea this year are unprecedented and largest of kind in terms of the complexity and
weapon firings. The sea phase would be held under Commander Task Group of Joint Forces of
SIMBEX-18, Rear Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet. Senior
Lieutenant Colonel Ho Jee Kien, Commanding Officer of 188 Missile Corvette Squadron would be
leading the Republic of Singapore Navy during the first sea phase and would also be the Deputy
Task Group Commander.

DKS/CGR/AC 127-
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