The fundamental takeaway from TROPEX 2025 is clear: jointmanship is no longer theoretical, it is operational and irreversible.
New Delhi: India’s military has wrestled with inter-service coordination for decades, struggling to fully integrate land, air, and naval power into a cohesive war-fighting strategy. While joint exercises have been conducted in the past, the arrival of the three Vice Chiefs of the Indian Armed Forces aboard INS Vikrant on 30 January 2025—amidst the Joint Phase of Theatre-Level Operational Readiness Exercise (TROPEX) 2025—marks another watershed moment in India’s journey towards integrated military operations.
This is not just another high-profile military drill. The very presence of Lieutenant General N.S. Raja Subramani (Vice Chief of the Army Staff), Vice Admiral K. Swaminathan (Vice Chief of the Naval Staff), and Air Marshal S.P. Dharkar (Vice Chief of the Air Staff) aboard India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier signals a strategic shift in how India envisions joint warfare. It emphasises that multi-domain synergy—once an aspiration—is now an operational reality.
Furthermore, TROPEX 2025 also witnessed the coordinated deployment of both the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet and Eastern Fleet, spotlighting India’s ability to conduct large-scale maritime operations across its strategic waters.
THREE VICE CHIEFS, ONE MESSAGE: JOINTNESS IS NO LONGER OPTIONAL
The imagery of the Vice Chiefs embarking INS Vikrant together is symbolic and a declaration of intent. This event comes when India’s military is on the verge of its most significant structural transformation: the impending creation of integrated theatre commands (ITCs). If the armed forces are serious about breaking down service-specific silos, the leadership must set the precedent for jointness from the top down—which is precisely what this moment signifies.
This is not the first time the three Vice Chiefs have come together for a high-visibility joint military event. In September 2024, they jointly flew in the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas during the Indian Air Force’s first multinational air exercise, “Tarang Shakti”. That sortie demonstrated inter-service cooperation in the air; their presence aboard INS Vikrant now completes the triad, extending jointness to the maritime domain.
However, unlike the Tejas flight, a showcase of indigenous defence manufacturing and military collaboration, TROPEX is where jointness meets hard operational reality. Here, theory gives way to practice.
TROPEX 2025 & ITS SIGNIFICANCE
With the Indo-Pacific emerging as the primary theatre of geopolitical contestation, TROPEX 2025 could not have been better timed. This year’s iteration involves the Indian Navy, Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard conducting a series of complex multi-domain war-fighting scenarios along India’s western seaboard.
The Vice Chiefs directly participated in an overnight sea sortie aboard INS Vikrant, observing maritime operations first-hand. The VCAS, Air Marshal Dharkar, even embarked on a MiG-29K trainer, executing a carrier landing, an extraordinary cross-service interaction that highlights the blurring of traditional service boundaries.
Meanwhile, the amphibious exercise AMPHEX 2025, conducted aboard INS Jalashwa, showcased a fully integrated war-fighting approach:
The 91 Infantry Brigade conducted an amphibious landing, securing a beachhead—an essential capability for island warfare and expeditionary operations. Marine Commandos (MARCOS) executed combat free-fall insertions and precision bunker-busting operations, highlighting their role in high-intensity littoral combat. Landing Craft Mechanised (LCM) and Landing Craft Assault (LCA) deployed armoured vehicles (BMPs) and troops, demonstrating seamless ship-to-shore connectivity.
This exercise is more than a training drill; it is a real-world test of how the Indian military would operate in a joint combat scenario, particularly in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)—where China’s growing naval footprint is an ever-present strategic concern.
INDIA’S THEATRE COMMAND REFORMS
The fundamental takeaway from TROPEX 2025 is clear: jointmanship is no longer theoretical—it is operational and irreversible. The presence of the three Vice Chiefs aboard INS Vikrant is not just a show of unity but a stark acknowledgement that future conflicts will demand seamless coordination across land, sea, and air. The participation of the Army and Air Force Vice Chiefs in a naval-led exercise signals a critical shift in combat philosophy—one that recognises that wars will no longer be fought in silos.
TROPEX 2025 carries a wider strategic message, particularly to China and the broader Indo-Pacific region. With Beijing steadily increasing its naval presence in the Indian Ocean—whether through research vessels, spy ships, or warships—this exercise confirms India’s ability to counter maritime threats with a coordinated, multi-service response.
By demonstrating air-sea-land interoperability in a combat scenario, India is signalling that it is protecting its maritime interests and cementing its role as a regional security
* Ashish Singh is a senior journalist with over 17 years of experience in defence and foreign affairs.