New Delhi: India and Singapore concluded bilateral maritime exercise Simbex on Saturday, which is the Indian Navy’s longest uninterrupted bilateral maritime exercise with any foreign navy, an official statement said.
The exercise was held on the "southern fringes of South China sea", the Indian Navy said.
The exercise assumes significance also as India, along with other countries, including the US and many nations in the area, have expressed concerns over China's growing Naval presence in the South China Sea.
The 28th edition of Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) was conducted from September 2-4.
The Indian Navy was represented by Guided Missile Destroyer INS Ranvijay with a ship borne helicopter, ASW Corvette INS Kiltan and Guided Missile Corvette INS Kora and one P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
Participants from the Singapore included one Formidable Class Frigate, RSS Steadfast, embarked with an S-70B naval helicopter, one Victory Class Missile Corvette, RSS Vigour, one Archer Class Submarine and one Fokker-50 Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
Four F-16 fighter aircraft of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) also participated in the exercise during the Air Defence Drills.
"Initiated in 1994, SIMBEX is the Indian Navy’s longest uninterrupted bilateral maritime exercise with any foreign navy," an official statement said.
"Sustaining the continuity of this significant engagement despite the challenges of the ongoing pandemic further underscores the strength of bilateral defence ties between both countries. Despite these constraints during the planning stages, both navies could achieve seamless and safe execution of several challenging evolutions, including live weapon firing and advanced naval warfare serials, including anti-submarine, anti-air and anti-surface warfare drills," the statement said.
The Navy added that the exercise this year was special with India celebrating 75 years of Independence.
"The success of SIMBEX-2021 is yet another demonstration of the mutual resolve on both sides to strengthen the bilateral partnership further in the years ahead."
Owing to the ongoing pandemic-related constraints, this year’s Simbex was planned without any physical interactions as an ‘at-sea only’ exercise hosted by the RSN in the southern fringes of the South China Sea.
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