Largest-Ever Tri-Service Exercise ‘Trishul 2025’ Concludes, Showcasing Integrated Combat Power

India’s biggest tri-service military exercise, Trishul 2025, concluded on Monday after nearly two weeks of high-intensity operations across land, air, and sea fronts in the western theatre. The exercise, which began on October 30, brought together the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Border Security Force, testing the nation’s joint warfighting capabilities from the Thar Desert in Rajasthan to the Saurashtra coast in Gujarat.

The integrated drills involved over 50,000 personnel and were designed to validate India’s ability to conduct multi-domain operations in realistic battlefield conditions. The final phase included an ambitious joint amphibious landing along the Saurashtra coast, marking the culmination of a series of major sub-exercises including Maru Jwala and MahaGujRaj-25.

Precision and Power from the Skies

As part of the overall Trishul series, the Indian Army’s Southern Command and the Indian Air Force (IAF) executed Exercise Maru Jwala in the Thar Desert, simulating deep-strike operations under desert warfare conditions. The drill featured airborne insertions, mechanised manoeuvres, and live-fire missions integrating indigenously developed drones, counter-drone systems, and electronic warfare (EW) capabilities.

The exercise was reviewed by Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, who commended the Sudarshan Chakra Corps, Shahbaaz Division, and airborne units for their operational precision and joint coordination. Lt. Gen. Seth lauded the troops for “demonstrating mission-ready synergy between air and ground forces” and for effectively incorporating new-generation technologies into their combat tactics.

IAF Validates Multi-Domain Air Power

Simultaneously, the Indian Air Force conducted Exercise MahaGujRaj-25 (MGR-25) from October 29 to November 11, covering key sectors of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The IAF showcased its ability to operate seamlessly across the entire spectrum of air operations, from offensive air campaigns to maritime strike missions and air-land support.

A major highlight was the use of civil airfields such as Hirasar International Airport for fighter operations, demonstrating a high degree of civil-military coordination and the IAF’s readiness to operate from dispersed bases in wartime scenarios. The exercise also validated network-centric warfare, technology integration, and rapid logistics support for sustained operations under realistic combat conditions.

Testing Joint Warfighting in the Western Theatre

Trishul 2025 represented the most comprehensive validation of India’s joint command concept to date, bringing together the Southern Command, Western Naval Command, and South Western Air Command in an integrated operational framework.

Participating assets included T-90S and Arjun Mk II tanks, Pinaka and Dhanush artillery systems, PraChand attack helicopters, and BrahMos-equipped naval vessels. Air power was projected through Rafale, Su-30MKI, Mirage 2000, and LCA Tejas fighters, supported by C-130J and IL-76 transport aircraft for airborne and logistics missions.

The Navy’s contribution featured Kolkata-class destroyers, Nilgiri-class frigates, INS Jalashwa, and Landing Craft Utility (LCU) vessels, executing amphibious and littoral operations off the Gujarat coast. Special Forces units from the Army’s Parachute (SF) Regiment, the Navy’s MARCOS, and the Air Force’s Garuds carried out joint reconnaissance and direct-action missions, testing interoperability and precision coordination.

Innovation, Integration, and Atmanirbharta

According to officials, Trishul 2025 served as a validation of indigenous defence systems, including locally developed drones, EW platforms, and AI-enabled decision support tools. The exercise emphasised Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) and multi-domain integration, two pillars of India’s evolving theatre command structure.

A senior defence official noted that the exercise “proved India’s capacity to conduct simultaneous air, land, and sea operations under a unified command structure,” adding that lessons from Trishul 2025 will directly inform the development of Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs), which are now in the final stages of policy formulation.

Strategic Message and Future Readiness

The timing and scale of Trishul 2025 carry significant strategic weight, coming amid heightened border vigilance and reports of increased Pakistani military activity across the western front. Though officially described as a “routine operational readiness exercise,” observers noted that Trishul served as a clear demonstration of India’s deterrence posture and joint preparedness to respond across multiple domains.

With the final amphibious phase off the Saurashtra coast, India has validated its ability to project power from land to sea, a key capability in future theatre warfare scenarios.

Team BharatShakti