The Indian Army’s Northern Command has successfully completed a pioneering multi-domain exercise, setting unprecedented standards for readiness in future conflicts. According to a defense spokesperson, this Tri-Service drill provided invaluable lessons and sharpened the reflexes of all involved, preparing them for the complex challenges of tomorrow’s battlefields.
Spanning four intensive days, the exercise rigorously tested commanders, staff, and frontline troops against a spectrum of advanced, hypothetical threats. These included sophisticated challenges in cyber warfare, space operations, electromagnetic spectrum dominance, and cognitive manipulation, simulating a truly modern combat environment.
A social media post from the official Northern Command account, dated October 17, 2025, highlighted the ‘EXERCISE VIDYUT VIDHHWANS’. It proudly showcased the command’s robust capabilities in multi-domain operations within a net-centric environment, emphasizing a ‘Whole of Nation’ strategy to combat future wars through seamless synergy and groundbreaking innovation in a realistic setting.
Crucially, this comprehensive exercise involved not just the armed forces but also the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), other defense branches, various central government agencies, and even private sector participants. This broad collaboration underscored the vital importance of a unified, ‘whole-of-nation’ strategy in addressing the ever-changing security challenges India faces.
The spokesperson further noted that the active involvement of India’s indigenous defense industry partners established a new benchmark, promoting enhanced joint operations, strengthening national self-reliance (‘Aatmanirbharta’), and fostering innovative solutions for defense.
During the drill, troops stationed in forward-deployed areas actively engaged in simulations covering a range of hostile scenarios, including cyber intrusions, attempts at spectrum saturation, electronic jamming, sophisticated spoofing tactics, and cognitive attacks.
Interacting with the troops, Northern Army Commander Lieutenant-General Pratik Sharma emphasized the evolving nature of conflict. ‘In modern warfare, the lines between different domains are increasingly blurred,’ he stated. ‘We must constantly innovate and harness niche technologies. A comprehensive ‘whole-of-nation’ approach is essential not only to safeguard our territorial integrity and critical assets but also to deliver decisive punitive action against any adversary, should the situation necessitate it.’
This exercise was a direct outcome of the insightful discussions held during ‘Samvad’ in Mathura on October 4, 2025. It powerfully demonstrated that true readiness for future warfare is cultivated through open-mindedness and impeccable teamwork across various entities, the spokesperson elaborated.
The spokesperson concluded by affirming that the Northern Command is now better equipped, more cohesive, and fully prepared to effectively counter emerging threats, armed with strategic foresight and powerful multi-domain synergy.