Indian Air Force begins exercise ‘Trishul’ along Pak and China Borders

In the midst of the continuing ‘military stalemate’ with China in Ladakh, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is organizing a training exercise named “Trishul” to evaluate combat preparedness in the northern and western sectors.

“The exercise is scheduled from September 4-14 and will validate the command’s operational preparedness and will see the employment of all the frontline assets from fighter jets, transport aircraft, helicopters and other force multipliers in high tempo,” a defence official said

The exercise will include fighter jets such as Rafales, Sukhoi-30s, and MiG-29s, as well as transport planes, helicopters, and other assets. The exercise will be led by the IAF’s Western Air Command (WAC), with C-17 heavy-lifters, transport planes, attack helicopters, and other aircraft taking part.

In addition to the aforementioned fighter planes, the training exercise will include heavy-lift transport aircraft and helicopters, such as the Chinook and Apache, increasing the exercise’s scope. The IAF’s prestigious Garud Special Forces squad will also take part in these drills. The major goal of this exercise, organized by the IAF’s Western Command, is to evaluate the force’s combat capabilities and study various operational features.

The WAC was critical in bolstering India’s military presence along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) during tensions with China. According to media reports, this exercise is set to be one of the most significant air manoeuvres performed by the IAF in recent memory. It will also include the deployment of critical assets from the Western Air Command, as well as resources from other commands, making it a large and comprehensive training exercise.

On Monday (September 4, 2023), the Indian Air Force began its annual major training exercise Trishul, as part of which its Western Air Command (WAC) would activate all of its combat assets from Leh in Kashmir to Nal in Rajasthan.

The drills will also take place in the northern sector, which includes Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Punjab.

The exercise is designed to evaluate the command’s operational readiness, and given its magnitude and complexity, it requires a high degree of cooperation and readiness.

This ten-day exercise comes at a key juncture in India’s preparations to host the G20 conference, which will overlap with the ongoing military standoff with China in eastern Ladakh, which is now in its fourth year.

Multiple IAF assets scheduled

 With multiple IAF assets scheduled to be deployed for airspace security in Delhi for the G20 Summit later this week, it is unclear whether the exercise will be suspended at this time. The Indian Air Force is on high alert for the G-20 meeting, which will be held in the national capital on September 9 and 10.

Significantly, the ‘Trishul’ drill is taking place against the backdrop of a three-year-long standoff between Indian and Chinese forces. Furthermore, it takes place in the background of India’s continually tense ties with Pakistan.

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