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Navy participates in a two-day trilateral Exercise SITMEX-20 in Andaman sea...SIMBEX-20 coming next !

The Indian Navy is participating in the two-day trilateral maritime exercise SITMEX-20 in the Andaman sea along with the navies of Singapore and Thailand, senior military officials said on Sunday.

2nd edition of trilateral maritime exercise SITMEX-2020 commences in Andaman Sea


Indian naval ships (INS), including indigenously-built anti-submarine warfare corvette Kamorta and missile corvette Karmuk, are participating in the 2nd edition of the trilateral exercise to be held on Sunday and Monday, they said.

The two-day maritime drills will witness the three navies participate in a variety of exercises, including naval manoeuvres, surface warfare exercises and weapon firings, the officials said.

The SITMEX series of exercises are conducted to enhance mutual interoperability and to imbibe best practices between the Indian Navy, Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and Royal Thai Navy (RTN), they said.

The RSN is being represented by the Formidable-class frigate Intrepid and Endurance-class landing ship tank Endeavour and the RTN by the Chao Phraya-class frigate Kraburi in the exercise, the officials said. 

The exercise is being conducted as a 'non-contact, at sea only' exercise in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and it highlights growing synergy, coordination and cooperation in the maritime domain between the three friendly navies and maritime neighbours, they said.

The first edition of SITMEX, hosted by the Indian Navy, was conducted off Port Blair in September 2019.


After SITMEX-20, SIMBEX-20 to follow


The Indian Navy will host the 27th edition of the India-Singapore bilateral maritime exercise SIMBEX-20 from Monday to Wednesday in the Andaman sea, said an official statement on Sunday.

"The 2020 edition of SIMBEX will witness participation by Indian Navy ships including destroyer Rana with integral Chetak helicopter and indigenously built corvettes INS Kamorta and INS Karmuk," the Navy said in the statement.

In addition, Indian Navy's submarine Sindhuraj and P8I maritime reconnaissance RSN) will be represented by the Formidable-class frigates Intrepid and Steadfast with S70B helicopter and Endurance-class landing ship tank Endeavour in the exercise, the statement said.

The SIMBEX series of exercises between the Indian Navy and the RSN have been conducted annually since 1994 and they are aimed at enhancing mutual interoperability and imbibing best practices from each other, the statement said.

The 2020 exercise is being conducted as a 'non-contact, at sea only’ exercise in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, it said.

About Exercise SITMEX-20

  • The SITMEX series of exercises are conducted to enhance mutual inter-operability and imbibing best practices between IN, Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and Royal Thai Navy (RTN).
  • The first edition of SITMEX, hosted by Indian Navy, was conducted off Port Blair in September 2019.
  • The 2020 edition of the exercise is being hosted by RSN.
  • The maritime drill witnessed a variety of exercises including naval manoeuvres, surface warfare exercises and weapon firings.
  • Besides improving inter-operability, SITMEX series of exercise also aims to strengthen mutual confidence and develop common understanding and procedures towards enhancing the overall maritime security in the region.

About Exercise SIMBEX-20

  • The India-Singapore bilateral cooperation was formally established for the first time when ships of Republic of Singapore Navy began training with the Indian Navy in 1994.

  • Ex-SIMBEX exemplifies high-level of coordination between India and Singapore, especially in the maritime domain. It also highlights the commitment of the two nations to a rules-based international order and is aimed at enhancing the overall maritime security in the region.

  • SIMBEX-20 will witness participation from "INS Rana" from the Indian side. It will be joined by integral Chetak helicopter and indigenously built corvettes Kamorta and Karmuk. INS Sindhuraj and P8I maritime aircraft will also participate in the exercise.

  • The Singapore Navy will be represented by the ‘Formidable’ Class frigates ‘Intrepid’ and ‘Steadfast'. The frigates will be joined by integral S70B helicopter and 'Endeavour', which is an ‘Endurance’ Class Landing Ship Tank.

  • The exercise is being conducted as a ‘non-contact, at sea only’ exercise due to the challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic.

  • The exercise highlights the high level of mutual trust, confidence, synergy and cooperation between the two friendly navies and maritime neighbours in the maritime domain.

  • The exercise will include advanced surface, anti-air warfare and anti-submarine warfare exercises including weapon firings, over three days of intensive joint operations at sea.

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