India, Singapore and Thailand are participating in a two-day long, trilateral maritime exercise SIMTEX-21 which began Monday and will conclude Tuesday. Indian Naval Ship (INS) Karmuk, an indigenously built Missile Corvette, is participating in the exercise, which is being held in the Andaman Sea.

In the exercise, Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) is being represented by RSS Tenacious, a Formidable Class Frigate and Royal Thai Navy (RTN) by His Majesty’s Thailand Ship (HTMS) Thayanchon, a Khamrosin Class Anti-submarine Patrol Craft.

"SITMEX is being conducted annually since 2019 with an aim to enhance mutual inter-operability and imbibing best practices between Indian Navy (IN), RSN and RTN. The maiden edition of SITMEX was hosted by Indian Navy off Port Blair in September 2019. RSN hosted the second edition of the exercise in November 2020. The 2021 edition of the exercise is being hosted by RTN in Andaman Sea," the Indian Navy said in a statement.

The exercise is being conducted as a ‘non-contact, at sea only’ exercise in view of Covid-19 restrictions and highlights growing synergy, coordination and cooperation in the maritime domain between the three friendly navies. The two days of maritime drills will witness the three navies engaged in a various tactical exercises including naval manoeuvres and surface warfare drills.

"SITMEX-21 will fortify the long-standing bond of friendship and further enhance the cooperation between the participating navies towards augmenting the overall maritime security in the region," the statement added.