The three navies concluded the fifth SITMEX exercise, strengthening coordination and reaffirming long-standing defence ties.
The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), the Indian Navy (IN) and the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) completed the 5th Singapore-India-Thailand Maritime Exercise (SITMEX) from 24 to 29 November 2025. The exercise was held in Singapore and the Andaman Sea, reaffirming the strong and enduring defence relations among the three countries.
This year, the RSN served as the host navy and led the planning and execution of the exercise. Singapore deployed the Independence-class littoral mission vessel RSS Dauntless, while India participated with the Kora-class corvette INS Karmuk, and Thailand with the Krabi-class offshore patrol vessel HTMS Krabi.
Image by: Singapore Ministry of Defence
The exercise commenced with a shore phase at RSS Singapura – Changi Naval Base, where personnel took part in professional exchanges and a sports programme to strengthen camaraderie. This was followed by a sea phase that included a series of drills such as communication exercises, boarding operations, photo exercises and a live gunnery firing serial in the Andaman Sea. These activities aimed to enhance operational coordination and readiness among the participating navies.
During the closing ceremony, Commander of the exercise task group and Commanding Officer of RSS Dauntless, Lieutenant Colonel Er Jin Kiat, underscored the importance of the trilateral engagement. He noted that maritime challenges were becoming increasingly complex and transnational, stressing that no navy could address them alone. He added that SITMEX continued to demonstrate the strength of the trilateral partnership and the trust built through transparent dialogue, close coordination and realistic training.
First held in 2019, SITMEX has since served as an important platform for Singapore, India and Thailand to strengthen collaboration at sea and contribute to the stability and security of the wider Indo-Pacific region.
Source: Singapore Ministry of Defence
