From Sea To Space: India’s Western Front Set For Massive Multi-Domain Exercise Trishul From Nov 3 To 13

The Indian Armed Forces are all set to launch a massive joint exercise on the western front of the country. Beginning November 3, the tri-service mega drill, Exercise Trishul, will bring together the Indian Army,

Navy, and Air Force in a large-scale, multi-domain wargame expanding from the Arabian Sea to the skies above. This is the first exercise of its kind post-operation Sindoor, which will go on till November 13.

As per top defence sources, India’s indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, along with its entire Carrier Battle Group (CBG), will be present for operations during the exercise. The Indian Navy, which is the lead agency for Exercise Trishul this year, will deploy nearly 20-25 warships, including INS Jalashwa, an amphibious transport dock, to undertake diverse maritime missions along the western seaboard.

The Indian Air Force will field around 40 high-performance fighter jets, including Rafales and Su-30 MKIs, supported by force enablers for coordinated strikes and air defence missions. On the ground, over 25,000 Indian Army personnel from two corps will participate and engage, with indigenous platforms and weapon systems being put to the test in realistic battlefield scenarios.

“Our main objective is to enhance the synergy between all the maritime forces as well as inter-services. This is a very large, complex, and multi-domain integrated operation that is being conducted at the largest scale, including aspects of cyber and space,” said Vice Admiral AN Pramod, Director General Naval Operations (DGNO).

The ambit of the exercise goes beyond conventional domains to include cyber and space domains too.

Each service will conduct independent yet synchronised exercises in designated zones. Joint command and control centres have been established at strategic locations in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Mumbai to ensure seamless coordination and interoperability. The Indian Coast Guard and BSF-like agencies are also involved in the exercise.

Interestingly, the Indian exercise coincides with heightened activity across the border. Pakistan has issued a NAVAREA warning for mariners, announcing its own firing drills in the Arabian Sea, alongside NOTAMs (Notice to Airmen) for several air routes. Many observers view the timing with a sense of strategic caution, given the proximity of both nations’ exercises in the same maritime theatre.