Indian Navy’s Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise (TROPEX-25) Underway in the Indian Ocean Region

The Indian Navy’s premier operational exercise, the Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise (TROPEX-25), is currently underway in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). This biennial exercise, known for its scale and strategic importance, integrates the capabilities of the Indian Navy, Indian Army, Indian Air Force (IAF), and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), demonstrating India’s commitment to safeguarding its maritime security interests in an evolving threat environment.

Objectives of TROPEX-25

TROPEX-25 is designed to:

• Validate the Indian Navy’s core warfighting skills in multi-domain operational scenarios.
• Ensure a synchronized, integrated response against conventional, asymmetric, and hybrid threats.
• Test combat readiness, strategic deployment, and interoperability among the three Services and the Coast Guard.

Exercise Duration and Phases

The exercise is being conducted over three months (January – March 2025) in multiple phases:

1. Harbour Phase – Focused on mission planning, logistics coordination, and operational briefings.
2. Sea Phase – Includes complex maritime operational scenarios, featuring:
   • Combat operations
   • Cyber and electronic warfare drills
   • Live weapon firings during the Joint Work Up Phase
   • Amphibious Exercise (AMPHEX), showcasing joint operations involving land and sea forces.

Scale and Scope of TROPEX-25

The exercise features an impressive array of Indian military assets:

• Naval Assets:
  • Approximately 65 Indian Naval ships
  • 09 submarines, including Kalvari Class
  • Over 80 aircraft, featuring MiG-29K, P-8I maritime patrol aircraft, Sea Guardian HALE UAVs, and MH-60R helicopters
  • Participation of INS Vikrant, India’s indigenous aircraft carrier, alongside Visakhapatnam and Kolkata Class destroyers
• Indian Air Force Assets:
  • Sukhoi-30, Jaguar, C-130 transport aircraft
  • Flight Refuellers and AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft
• Indian Army Participation:
  • An Infantry Brigade with over 600 troops, participating in amphibious and joint operational drills
• Indian Coast Guard:
  • More than 10 ships and aircraft participating in maritime security and surveillance operations

Key Focus Areas

• Coordinated planning and precise targeting
• Combat effectiveness in contested environments
• Joint amphibious operations
• Cybersecurity and electronic warfare capabilities
• Forward deployed sustenance and strategic deterrence

Strengthening Jointness and Maritime Security

TROPEX-25 reflects the Indian Armed Forces’ commitment to jointness and synergy, enhancing operational readiness to meet evolving maritime security challenges. The exercise plays a vital role in ensuring that India can project power, secure its maritime interests, and respond swiftly to threats, Anytime, Anywhere, Anyhow.

This iteration of TROPEX underscores India’s role as a responsible maritime power, capable of credible joint operations in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.