A mega tri-service military exercise kicked off earlier this week along the western border with Pakistan, the first joint drills at such a large scale since Operation Sindoor in May.
Additionally, a NOTAM (notice to airmen) was also issued Friday for a large-scale Indian Air Force (IAF) exercise in the North East in areas bordering China, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
The tri-service drills, Exercise Trishul, will go on till November 13 and will focus on the Western border, including the desert and the Sir Creek areas.
With around 20,000 troops participating, the exercise aims to test offensive and defensive capabilities, interoperability, and coordination among the Armed Forces in the current scenario, with Operation Sindoor yet to end formally.
Sources said the three services will operationally test the entire spectrum of resources for efficacy and capability — T-90 and Arjun tanks, attack helicopters, missile systems, Rafale and Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, drones and a range of warships. Also taking part in the drills will be indigenous platforms and equipment that have been inducted or recently upgraded.
The tri-services’ assets will also be tested in the electromagnetic spectrum, and in the cyber and information warfare domain.
“The exercise will explore the integration of all services in detail in achieving stated objectives in mission-specific scenarios,” a source said, adding that the exercise will test joint planning and command structures as well as the operational readiness of the three services at a given time, thus giving an idea of how theatre commands are likely to function when created.
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On Friday, Director General of Naval Operations Vice Admiral A N Pramod had said the Southern Army Command, the Western Naval Command and the South Western Air Command are participating in the exercise to enhance the synergy between maritime forces and inter-services.
“..It is a multi-domain integrated operation, which we are conducting, which includes, other than the conventional part, cyber, space..all these aspects are being considered,” he said.
He said 20-25 warships of the Navy, over 40 fighter aircraft and other support aircraft of the IAF and other Army assets are participating, adding that amphibious drills will also be held, for which the Navy’s Landing Platform Dock INS Jalashwa and landing craft utilities are also participating.
Last month, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had warned Pakistan and stated that a route to Karachi passes through Sir Creek. He had said that any aggression in the Sir Creek area would be met with a response that would “change both history and geography.”
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Meanwhile, the IAF exercise in the North East will be held in phases between November and January 2026, with the NOTAM mentioning six different dates. It is aimed at testing combat readiness in the strategic region. It will partly coincide with Exercise Trishul.
Last month, the Armed Forces conducted a tri-services exercise to test drones and counter-drone systems.
