India-Singapore Navies Begin SIMBEX 2017 at Singapore: 8 Key Points

The 24th Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercises, SIMBEX-17 commenced between Indian and Singapore on 18th May 2017. This current affair is important from exam point of view and during SSB Lecturette. Read on to know more.

The 24th Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercises, SIMBEX-17 commenced between Indian and Singapore on 18th May 2017.

This is the follow up of the recent deployment of Indian Naval Ships to Singapore.

Representing India are INS Shivalik, Sahyadri, Jyoti and Kamorta along with one P8-I maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft. The vessels are under the command of Rear Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, YSM, VSM, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet.

Supreme, Formidable and Victory vessels and a maritime patrol aircraft Fokker F50 and the RSAF F-16 fighter jets will represent Singapore.

This current affair is important from exam point of view and during SSB Lecturette

About SIMBEX-17

1. SIMBEX stands for Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise and focuses on enhancing interoperability between Indian Navy and RSN.
2. This year’s SIMBEX is being conducted in the South China Sea and it is 24th in the series of SIMBEX held so far.
3. The first SIMBEX was held in 1994 with the navies of both the countries.
4. The activities of the exercise include diverse-ranging professional interactions during the Harbour Phase and a wide range of operational activities during the Sea Phase.
5. The focus of the SIMBEX-17 naval exercise is on anti-submarine warfare (ASW), surface encounter exercises, integrated operations both with surface and sub-surface forces and air defence.
6. The exercise will continue from 18th May 2017 to 24th May 2017 in two phases.
7. The harbour phase will be held from 18th to 20th May while the sea phase will be held from 21st to 24th
8. Last year, Admiral Lai Chung Han, RSN Chief of Staff, had visited Eastern Naval Command and participated in International Fleet Review 2016 which was February 2016 in Visakhapatnam followed by SIMBEX-16.

About the vessels participating in the exercise

• INS Sahyadri and INS Shivalik: Multi-role stealth frigates
• INS Kamorta: Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvette
• INS Jyoti: Fleet replenishment tanker
• P-8I Maritime Patrol and Anti-Submarine Warfare Aircraft: Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Anti- Submarine (LRMRASW) aircraft.