Archer-class Submarine Participates in Annual Singapore and Indian Navy Exercise

Ships from the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and Indian Navy (IN) participating in the Singapore-Indian Maritime Bilateral Exercise.

The Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN) Archer-class submarine participated in the annual Singapore-Indian Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) with the Indian Navy (IN) for the first time this year. Hosted by Singapore, this year's exercise is the 22nd in the series and was held from 20 to 26 May 2015.

SIMBEX 2015, which saw the RSN and IN conducting advanced naval warfare training involving air, surface and sub-surface dimensions, aims to enhance the interoperability and mutual understanding between the two navies. The RSN participated in the exercise with a frigate (RSS Supreme), submarine (RSS Archer) and a Fokker-50 maritime patrol aircraft, while the IN participated with a frigate (INS Satpura), corvette (INS Kamorta) and a P-8I maritime patrol aircraft. The Republic of Singapore Air Force also deployed four F-5 fighter aircraft for the exercise.

SIMBEX started in 1994 as a training-oriented anti-submarine warfare exercise and has since grown in scale and complexity over the years. The exercise underscores the warm and long-standing defence ties between India and Singapore, which have strengthened over the years since the signing of the Defence Cooperation Agreement in 2003. Following Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen's official visit to India in August last year, both defence establishments agreed to strengthen defence relations under the ambit of an enhanced defence partnership this year. This would allow both sides to explore new areas of cooperation for mutual benefit.

RSN Fleet Commander Colonel Lew Chuen Hong (right) and IN Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet (FOCEF) Rear Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh at the opening ceremony at Changi Naval Base.

RSN and IN personnel interacting onboard the RSN's Formidable-class frigate, RSS Supreme.