Bengaluru: The Indian Navy (IN) is scheduled to host the 27th edition of India - Singapore Bilateral Maritime Exercise (SIMBEX-20) from November 23 to November 25, 2020, in the Andaman Sea.

In the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, the Naval exercise will be conducted as a 'non-contact, at sea only' exercise.

The SIMBEX series of exercises between IN and Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), being conducted annually since 1994, are aimed at enhancing mutual interoperability and imbibing best practices from each other. The scope and complexity of these exercises have increased steadily over the past two decades to include advanced naval drills covering a wide spectrum of maritime operations.

The 27th edition of the India-Singapore Bilateral Maritime Exercise 2020 will witness the participation of Indian Navy's Rajput-class destroyer INS Rana along with indigenously-built anti-submarine Kamorta-class stealth corvette INS Kamorta and Kora-class corvette INS Karmuk. The Chetak helicopters along with submarine INS Sindhuraj and P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft will also participate in the exercise.

The Republic of Singapore Navy will be represented by Formidable-class stealth frigates RSS Intrepid and RSS Steadfast along with integral S70B helicopter as well as Endurance-class landing platform dock ship RSS Endeavour during SIMBEX 2020.

SIMBEX-20 will witness the two friendly navies participate in the advanced surface, anti-air warfare and anti-submarine warfare exercises including weapon firings, over three days of intensive joint operations at sea.