In late October 2025, the Indian Armed Forces commenced a major tri-service exercise dubbed Exercise Operation Trishul, involving the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, along the western frontier with Pakistan in the Rann of Kutch and the strategic Sir Creek region.
The exercise runs from 30 October to 10 November 2025.
India issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) covering a large swathe of airspace in Gujarat and Rajasthan, signalling both scale and intent.
This article explores what Exercise Operation Trishul signifies — strategically, operationally and for India’s broader national interest. The aim: to empower you, the reader, with a full understanding of what’s at stake, how India is positioning itself, and why this matters.
1. Why Now? The Strategic Context
1.1 The Western Frontier & Sir Creek
The Rann of Kutch — a vast salt desert region between Gujarat (India) and Sindh (Pakistan) — and the tidal channel of Sir Creek form a sensitive zone of boundary ambiguity and strategic concern.
Sir Creek in particular, at ~96 km long, shapes maritime access and land-sea boundary issues.
In this context, Pakistan has reportedly expanded forward military infrastructure near the creek, raising concern in Indian military intelligence.
1.2 Demonstration of “Jointness” and Multi-Domain Capability
Exercise Operation Trishul is explicitly a tri-service affair: land, sea, and air forces working in tandem.
Analysts say it tests integrated operations across domains (desert, amphibious, air‐strike, electronic warfare) — signalling India’s evolving military doctrine.
1.3 Timing, Signalling and Regional Message
The fact that India has declared an exercise of this size near such a flashpoint region sends a clear strategic message — both domestically (to the Indian public) and externally (to Pakistan and other regional players). Pakistan’s immediate reaction — issuing airspace restrictions, deploying assets — shows the message landed.
In short, the “why now” is: to test readiness, to underscore deterrence, to validate modern multi-domain capability — and to project India’s resolve to protect its borders and maritime approaches.
2. What Are the Key Features of Exercise Trishul?
2.1 Scope & Duration
- Running from 30 October to 10 November 2025. Firstpost
- Covering multiple terrains: desert salt-flats of Rann, creek network of Sir Creek, maritime stretches off Gujarat’s coast.
2.2 Forces & Assets Involved
While full classified numbers aren’t public, media reports highlight:
- Deployment of an Army division with tanks, armed helicopters and missiles. India Today
- Navy deploying frigates and destroyers off the coast of Gujarat. India Today
- Air Force sending advanced fighters (such as Su-30 MKI, Rafale) for integrated air operations. India Today+1
- A NOTAM issued covering large airspace up to 28,000 feet altitude (according to satellite imagery data) in the exercise zone. AajTak
2.3 Exercises & Drills
Some of the key sub‐components:
- Amphibious landings on Saurashtra coast. AajTak
- Joint land/air operations in creek and desert terrain.
- Multi‐domain drills including electronic warfare, counter-drone operations and integrated air defence. Insights IAS
2.4 Why the Name “Trishul”?
“Trishul” – meaning trident in Sanskrit – signifies three prongs which mirror the tri-service dimension: Army + Navy + Air Force. The name is thus symbolic of integrated projection of force.
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3. What Does This Mean for India? Why It Matters
3.1 Strengthening Deterrence & Credibility
India’s ability to credibly deter threats along its western frontier is enhanced when exercises showcase real capability. For citizens and policymakers alike, this signals that the armed forces are operating cohesively, and not just in isolated service silos.
By exercising in forward contested zones, India sends the message: we’re not passive, we’re prepared.
3.2 Refining Modern Warfare Readiness
Modern conflicts demand joint operations: land forces supported by air in real time; naval operations tied into coastal and desert domains; electronic/cyber domains integrated. Trishul allows India to refine these skill-sets — for example, amphibious operations in a challenging salt-marsh environment, coordinating with air and sea.
For defence planners and industry watchers, such exercises provide a test-bed to validate doctrine, logistics, command & control, and interoperability.
3.3 Geopolitical Signalling: India’s Posture
At a time when the India–Pakistan frontier remains volatile, and India’s maritime and land security concerns are expanding, the exercise sends a message of firmness. It is not mere sabre-rattling, but an institutionalised demonstration of capability and intent.
For India’s neighbours and the broader region, it helps clarify that India intends to protect its strategic approaches — whether on land or at sea — and is proactive about it.
3.4 Empowering the Citizen: Confidence in Security
For the Indian citizen, knowing that the country invests in such credible, complex drills fosters national confidence. It strengthens the idea that defence is not reactive alone, but anticipatory and integrated.
Moreover, such transparency in exercise timing, location, and scope helps counter misinformation and bolsters societal resilience.
4. What Are the Risks & Watch-Points?
4.1 Potential for Miscalculation
Large drills near sensitive borders always carry some risk of misinterpretation by the other side. As one analyst noted: “Exercise Trishul is a sweeping, tri-service military drill … scheduled along the Pakistan border …” which could be seen as escalatory. Asia Times+1
India must calibrate messaging and ensure that while deterrence is projected, escalation is not inadvertently triggered.
4.2 Logistics, Terrain & Realism
Executing complex amphibious landings in creek/desert terrain, coordinating across services, and sustaining supply lines in remote areas is challenging. The real training value lies in uncovering and correcting gaps.
If these aren’t handled well, the drills could become superficial rather than meaningful.
4.3 Public & International Perception
Neighboring Pakistan has already reacted (air-space restrictions, forward posture) which means international observers will watch closely. India must manage its communication: emphasising defensive readiness rather than offensive posture.
Maintaining diplomatic lanes even as the drills progress is important to reduce unintended escalation.
5. Empowering You: What to Watch For
If you’re tracking Exercise Trishul and what it means for India’s defence environment, here are things to look out for:
- NOTAMs and air-space restrictions: The region and height ceilings (e.g., ~28,000 ft). These reveal the scale and reach of the exercise.
- Movement of assets: Naval vessels off Gujarat coast, Army formations in Rann, air‐force sorties with advanced fighters. These signal the ‘tools’ India is using.
- Media commentary: How civilian media and regional press (including Pakistan’s response) frame the exercise reveals geopolitical signalling, perceptions and narratives.
- Post-exercise declarations: After Nov 10, official statements, lessons learned, deployment changes and doctrinal updates may follow — showing the institutional impact of the drill.
- Linkage to broader strategy: See how Exercise Trishul ties into India’s “multi-domain” defence posture — across land, sea, air, cyber and space — and how industry, logistics and training adapt accordingly.
6. Why This Should Matter to Every Indian
- National security assurance: Knowing that India is proactively exercising its military muscle, especially in forward zones, provides a layer of assurance about national security readiness.
- Confidence in military modernization: Exercise Trishul underscores investments in new platforms (fighters, helicopters, ships), inter‐service synergy and modern doctrine — all signs India’s defence ecosystem is evolving.
- Strategic awareness: The more the citizenry understands the “why” of these exercises — not as component of panic or militarism, but as a normal pillar of national defence — the better society at large can engage with policy, media and public debate.
- Regional stability: Prepared defence posture often underpins deterrence and thus contributes to stability. A credible India border posture helps reduce mis-calculations.
- Citizen empowerment: When armed forces openly conduct such exercises and explain them, it reinforces transparency, trust and an informed public — critical for a mature democracy.
7. Concluding Thoughts
Exercise Trishul is more than just a ‘war game’. It is a strategic milestone: a demonstration of India’s ability to integrate its Army, Navy and Air Force in challenging terrain; a signal to adversaries that India’s defence prioritises modern, joint operations; and evidence that India is entering a phase where multi-domain readiness matters as much as territorial defence.
For you, the reader, this exercise is a reminder: defence readiness isn’t merely about equipment or budgets. It is about training, coordination, resilience, signalling and strategic culture. Recognising this empowers you — as a citizen, observer or stakeholder — to engage more thoughtfully with India’s security discourse.
By keeping a watch on the mechanics, messages and outcomes of Exercise Trishul, you gain insight into where India stands in 2025, how it projects preparedness, and why border stability remains a national priority.
In a world of many uncertainties, such preparedness is a pillar of assurance.