The 4th Singapore-India-Thailand Maritime Exercise (SITMEX) strengthened trilateral naval cooperation with drills and joint operations in the Andaman Sea.

11 November 2024, Port Blair, India — The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), Indian Navy (IN), and Royal Thai Navy (RTN) successfully concluded the 4th edition of the Singapore-India-Thailand Maritime Exercise (SITMEX) held from 8 to 11 November. This year’s SITMEX was hosted by the Indian Navy, beginning with a shore phase at Port Blair, followed by a sea phase in the Andaman Sea.

The exercise featured a strong line-up of naval assets, with the RSN deploying its Formidable-class frigate RSS Tenacious, equipped with an embarked S-70B Seahawk naval helicopter. The Indian Navy contributed its Saryu-class offshore patrol vessel INS Saryu, Kora-class corvette INS Karmuk, and a Dornier-228 maritime patrol aircraft, while the Royal Thai Navy deployed its Krabi-class offshore patrol vessel HTMS Krabi.

Throughout SITMEX 2024, the three navies engaged in coordinated manoeuvres, live firing exercises, and maritime surveillance operations, designed to enhance operational cooperation and response in safeguarding open and secure sea lines of communication. The exercise demonstrated a shared commitment to maritime security and regional stability, with participating forces executing precision manoeuvring drills and practicing coordinated responses to simulated threats.

Lieutenant Colonel Vincent Chan, Commanding Officer of RSS Tenacious, highlighted the importance of SITMEX for strengthening defence relationships among the three nations. “The successful conduct of SITMEX underscores the strong partnership amongst the participating navies in working together to keep the sea lines of communication open. It is important that like-minded navies keep up with interactions such as SITMEX to deepen mutual understanding and enhance interoperability,” said LTC Chan.

The SITMEX series was inaugurated in 2019 as a platform for the RSN, IN, and RTN to collaborate in enhancing maritime security, promoting stability in international waters, and building mutual trust. This year’s exercise reaffirms the enduring defence cooperation between Singapore, India, and Thailand and underscores a collective commitment to ensuring peace and security across the region’s critical maritime channels.

Source: MINDEF