The vast western coastline of India has
transformed into a giant theatre of military maneuver as the Exercise Trishul
unfolds a coordinated 12-day war game where the Indian Army, Indian Navy and
Indian Air Force are operating together at scale. From October 30 to November 10, 2025, the
drills stretch from the Sir Creek wetlands in Gujarat to the approaches of
Karachi, covering land, sea and air domains. Taking place in a strategically sensitive
area, this exercise signals India’s readiness for multi-domain warfare and
underscores the importance of inter-service integration.
What is Exercise Trishul?
The exercise is a large-scale tri-service military drill involving all three
branches of the Indian armed forces. The aim is to test and refine joint
doctrines developed after previous operations most notably Operation Sindoor and
to validate how well the three services can operate together in high-intensity,
real-world conditions. The location across Gujarat and Rajasthan,
including terrain like creeks, deserts and maritime zones, has been chosen for
its strategic sensitivity along the India-Pakistan border.
When and Where: The Geography and Time Frame
Running from October 30 to November 10, 2025, Exercise Trishul spans stations
in Gujarat and Rajasthan, with special focus on the Sir Creek and Rann of Kutch
area. The drills cover multiple theatres land, air
and sea and include amphibious operations off the Saurashtra coast. By holding
the exercise in one of the most geopolitically sensitive stretches of India’s
western border, the defence forces are reinforcing deterrence and readiness.
Scale and Scope: Forces, Platforms and Domains
The scale of the exercise is immense. Over 20,000 troops are reported to be
participating, supported by battle tanks, artillery, attack helicopters and
missile systems. On the air side, the Indian Air Force has
deployed its top-tier assets including Rafale and Su-30MKI fighters, UAVs,
aerial refuellers and AWACS/AEW&C platforms. The Navy has brought destroyers, frigates and
patrol aircraft to simulate maritime and littoral combat scenarios. Together, these platforms test integrated
operations across domains air strikes, naval blockades, armored ground
offensives and amphibious landings—all coordinated among the three services.
Objectives: Why India Is Conducting This Drill
Exercise Trishul has several key objectives. First, it tests
interoperability—how well the Army, Navy and Air Force can function as a
unified, integrated force. Second, it serves as a readiness check, validating
command coordination, communication networks and real-time decision-making
under stress. Third, it emphasises the use of indigenous platforms and
self-reliance in defence production. Fourth, it sends a strategic message: that
India is alert to provocations and capable of full-spectrum response in its
western theatre. The exercise’s timing and location are noted to have triggered
heightened vigilance in Pakistan’s southern military zone.
Strategic Significance: What It Means on the
Ground
The Sir Creek-Saurashtra corridor has long been viewed as a sensitive maritime
front with Pakistan. By staging this exercise there, India underscores its
ability to control and respond in this zone. The issuance of a Notice to Airmen
(NOTAM) prior to the exercise reflects the air-domain scale of operations. From the Pakistani side, the drills have
prompted air-space restrictions and increased alertness interpreted as
recognition of the seriousness of these war games. Strategically, Exercise Trishul projects
deterrence, fosters force integration and tests new operational doctrines without
actual conflict.
What to Watch: Implications for Defence &
Security
A major implication of Exercise Trishul is the evolution toward “multi-domain”
warfare where land, sea, air (and increasingly cyber/space) operations are
conducted in coordination. The joint deployment of specialised units, advanced
weaponry and unified command suggests India is moving beyond service-specific
silos. Observers will also look for how indigenous systems perform under
operational realism, which feeds into the country’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat”
(self-reliant India) defence vision. Regional peers, especially across the
frontier, will watch whether this exercise changes force posture, alert levels
or engagement protocols. For India, the success of such drills will influence
readiness, doctrine updates and procurement decisions.
Conclusion: A Statement of Readiness &
Integration
In a nutshell, Exercise Trishul 2025 is far more than just a routine drill. It
is a full-spectrum, high-intensity war game where the Indian Army, Navy and Air
Force test their joint capabilities across land, sea and air in one of the
country’s most strategic border zones. It symbolizes India’s commitment to
integrated defence operations, strengthened deterrence and self-reliance in
military technology. For those following the region’s security landscape, the
exercise serves both as an indicator of India’s operational maturity and as a
reminder of the evolving nature of modern warfare.
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