The Indian Armed Forces have commenced a massive tri-service exercise dubbed 'Trishul' along the western seaboard, mobilising naval, army, and air assets in a high-intensity simulation of multi-domain warfare. Led by the Indian Navy under the Southern Naval Command, the drill—spanning from Gujarat to Kerala—aims to validate joint doctrines, enhance interoperability, and deter potential threats in the Arabian Sea theatre. Over 50 warships, submarines, 100 aircraft, and thousands of troops are participating, marking one of the largest such manoeuvres since the 2008 Tropex series.

Exercise Trishul kicked off on November 1 with amphibious landings, anti-submarine operations, and air defence drills off the Konkan coast, incorporating live-fire scenarios and cyber-electronic warfare elements. Key assets include INS Vikrant, the indigenous aircraft carrier; P-8I maritime patrol aircraft; and Rafale-M fighters, alongside army mechanised forces practising rapid deployment via landing craft. The Indian Air Force contributes Su-30MKIs for strike missions, while special forces conduct covert insertions, simulating responses to hybrid threats from state and non-state actors.

This iteration emphasises integrated theatre commands, a cornerstone of India's military reforms post the 2020 Agnipath scheme and 2023 theatreisation roadmap. Commanded by Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, Trishul tests command-and-control fusion across domains, including space-based surveillance via GSAT-7A satellites. Environmental safeguards, such as marine mammal monitoring, align with global best practices amid the ecologically sensitive coastline.

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As geopolitical tensions simmer in the Indian Ocean Region—with Chinese naval forays and Pakistan's submarine upgrades—Trishul sends a clear message of readiness. Defence analysts view it as a precursor to potential conflicts, honing logistics for sustained operations far from home bases. The exercise concludes November 15, with debriefs informing future procurements like additional MQ-9B drones.

Public sightings of convoys and low-flying jets have sparked curiosity along Mumbai's beaches, boosting national pride. Trishul not only sharpens combat edge but also fosters unity among services, ensuring India's western flank remains impregnable in an era of evolving threats.

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