Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise

Background

• The Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) began as an anti-submarine warfare exercise in 1994. Over the years, the exercise has grown in scope and complexity to become an advanced warfare exercise involving air, surface and underwater warfare dimensions. This year, SIMBEX marks its Silver Jubilee.

SIMBEX 2018

Conducted in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal, this year's SIMBEX sees the largest number of participating assets in SIMBEX history, with about 30 participating assets from both the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the Indian Navy (IN). This year's exercise comprises drills at sea, professional exchanges, and official calls between RSN and IN principals.

Andaman Sea. Multi-dimensional naval warfare exercises will be conducted in the Andaman Sea. They include the following anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare exercise scenarios:

1. Anti-air. The RSN's and IN ships' sensors and radars will scan the skies for enemy aircraft as part of the air defence exercise. Barak missiles will be fired at simulated incoming enemy fighter aircraft in a planned missile firing by an RSN missile corvette and an IN frigate.

2. Anti-surface. In addition to manoeuvring and communication drills, the RSN and IN naval and air assets will also work together as an integrated team to target and engage enemy ships with long-range missiles and guns. In addition, an RSN submarine will fire a torpedo against an enemy ship.

3. Anti-submarine. Naval and air assets from the RSN and IN will be deployed for combined anti-submarine warfare exercises. A professional sharing on submarine rescue will also be conducted ashore.

Bay of Bengal. A series of firings are planned to be conducted in the Bay of Bengal. This includes an Aster missile firing and OTO Melara 76mm gun firing by the RSN, and Barak missile firing and anti-submarine rocket firing by the IN.

Growing in Scope and Complexity

Strengthening Anti-Submarine Warfare Capabilities. Since the first exercise in 1994, the RSN has enhanced its capability in anti-submarine warfare with the deployment of a range of assets with anti-submarine capabilities, such as the missile corvettes, anti-submarine patrol vessels, frigates, submarines, and naval air assets. During SIMBEX 2003, the RSN became the first Southeast Asian navy to successfully fire a torpedo against a moving submarine.

Expanding into Anti-Air and Anti-Submarine Warfare. As the scope of the exercise expanded and increased in complexity, a new set of standard operating procedures was signed in 2006 to expand the original agreement, which only covered anti-submarine warfare. The revised agreement expanded to encompass procedures for anti-air and anti-surface warfare, such as maritime interdiction and maritime air operations.

Significant Milestones

The following table summarises the significant milestones of the exercise: