Sir Creek to Karachi: ‘Exercise Trishul’ Begins Today — First Major Tri-Service Wargame Since Operation Sindoor

IN NEWS:

Sir Creek to Karachi: ‘Exercise Trishul’ Begins Today — First Major Tri-Service Wargame Since Operation Sindoor

ANALYSIS:

• The Government of India has launched a major tri-services military exercise, titled ‘Exercise Trishul’, marking the first such coordinated defence display since the conclusion of Operation Sindoor.
• The wargame will be conducted from October 30 to November 10, covering the western sector of India, and involves the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force (IAF).
• A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has been issued to alert civil aviation authorities regarding the ongoing military operations.

Key Operational Highlights:

1. The exercise aims to test and validate the lessons learned from Operation Sindoor through joint, multi-domain combat scenarios.
2. It will include offensive manoeuvres across creek and desert regions, amphibious landings off the Saurashtra coast, and combined air-land-sea drills.
3. The Indian Air Force will deploy its frontline platforms — including Rafales, Su-30MKIs, RPAs, UAVs, IL-78 refuellers, and AEW&C aircraft — to simulate real-world aerial and surveillance operations.
4. The Indian Navy will participate with frontline warships and maritime assets, conducting exercises in realistic combat environments.
5. The Indian Army has mobilised around 25,000 troops, supported by main battle tanks, artillery units, armed helicopters, and missile systems.
6. Multiple indigenous platforms and weapon systems will undergo testing under live operational conditions.

Strategic Objectives:

• Enhance coordination and interoperability between the three services.
• Strengthen joint operational readiness for high-intensity combat.
• Refine integrated command and control mechanisms under real-time battlefield conditions.
• Evaluate the synergy of modern platforms across land, air, and maritime domains.

Regional and Strategic Context:

• The exercise covers the Sir Creek–Sindh–Karachi axis, a region of heightened strategic significance along India’s western frontier.
• Reports indicate that Pakistan has placed several commands on alert, interpreting the drills as a potential contingency readiness operation.

STATIC PART:

• Operation Sindoor: A successful past tri-service operation that tested joint force capabilities across India’s western sector.
• Sir Creek: A 96 km tidal estuary located at the India–Pakistan border between Gujarat (India) and Sindh (Pakistan), significant for its maritime boundary disputes and fisheries resources.
• Tri-Service Exercises: Such exercises aim to achieve seamless coordination between Army, Navy, and Air Force, integrating ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) capabilities with offensive operations.
• Saurashtra Coast: A key maritime region along Gujarat’s coastline, critical for naval mobility and amphibious operations in India’s western seaboard defence strategy.

Updated – 30 Oct 2025 ; 11:21 AM | Moneycontrol

Source: Moneycontrol