The Indian Army, Navy and Air Force conducted tri-service exercises from Thar Desert to Kutch

Reflecting the expansion of capabilities of the Armed Forces in multiple domains and focus on Atmanirbharta in defence, Exercise Trishul commenced with mission-focused verification operations to enhance integrated readiness across multiple domains. The exercises cover electronic warfare, cyber operations, drones and counter-drone operations, along with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) as well as air defense control and reporting. The exercises confirm the readiness of the tri-services to dominate virtual and physical domains through seamless land, sea and air integration for coordinated joint operations.

“In the Thar Desert, Southern Command formations are conducting extensive integrated exercises through Maru Jwala (meaning Desert Fire) and Akhand Prahar (Sustained Strike) exercises to validate combined arms operations, mobility and combined fires integration under realistic conditions. The training is scheduled to culminate in a massive combat exercise that validates precision targeting and multi-domain coordination, reaffirming the Army’s commitment to transformation through rigorous training and operational validation,” an Army press release said.

The joint training in the Kutch sector, which includes the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Border Security Forces, aims to rehearse integrated operational capability in close coordination with the civil administration, reflecting the military-civilian fusion approach to achieve integrated national security. The final phase of Exercise TRISHUL will culminate in a joint amphibious exercise off the coast of Saurashtra, including ashore landings by Southern Command amphibious forces, validating full land, sea and air integration and underscoring the Indian Armed Forces’ ability to project power and synergy across multiple domains.

The press release added: “Ex Trishul is a testimony to the Armed Forces’ commitment to solidarity, Aatmanirbharta and innovation. It also serves as a testbed of the Indian Army’s Decade of Transformation initiative built on the five pillars of Solidarity and Integration, Force Restructuring, Modernization and Technology Infusion, Improving Systems and Operations, and Enhancing Human Resource Skills to adapt to the changing character of warfare. The Indian Army reaffirms its resolve to continuously evolve and remain a future-ready force capable of meeting emerging challenges across the entire spectrum of conflict.”

“Trishul features extensive operations across the creek and desert sectors of Rajasthan and Gujarat, along with comprehensive maritime operations including amphibious operations in the North Arabian Sea,” an Indian Navy press release issued earlier this month said.

“Covering the Gujarat coast and the North Arabian Sea – Army’s Southern Command, Western Naval Command and Southwestern Air Command are the main formations participating in the exercise – the Indian Coast Guard, Border Security Forces and other central agencies are also participating in large numbers, enhancing inter-agency coordination and integrated operations,” the statement added.

The main focus of the exercise was to enhance synergy between all forces and validate integrated multi-domain operations in a large and complex operational environment. It involved large-scale deployment of Indian Navy warships, Indian Air Force fighters and support aircraft, and amphibious operations by the Indian Army and Navy, including the Landing Platform Dock ships INS Jalashwa and Landing Craft Utility (LCU).