INTEGRATED BATTLE GROUPS

 

The Integrated battle group (IBG) is a new concept which the Indian Army is planning to create as a part of overall force transformation.

• IBGs can swiftly launch strikes against an adversary in case of hostilities.

 

Features

• IBGs are brigade-sized, agile, self-sufficient combat formations
• Each IBG would be tailor-made based on Threat, Terrain & Task and resources will be allotted based on the three Ts.
• Able to mobilise within 12-48 hours based on the location
• Concepte of IBG pilot-tested by 9 Corps
• The army will approach centre for sanction after that

 

Brigade size units

• While a command is the largest static formation of the Army spread across defined geography, a corps is the largest mobile formation.
• Typically each corps has three divisions and each division has three brigades.
• The idea is to reorganise them into IBGs which are brigade-sized units but have all the essential elements like infantry, armoured, artillery and air defence embedded together based on the three Ts.
• An IBG operating in a desert needs to be constituted differently from an IBG operating in the mountains.

 

Types

• The IBGs will also be defensive and offensive.
• The offensive IBGs would quickly mobilise and make thrust into enemy territory for strikes.
• The defensive IBGs would hold ground at vulnerable points or where enemy action is expected.

 

The overall transformation of the force

The army chief has initiated four measures:

1. Restructuring of Army Headquarters
2. Force restructuring which includes the creation of Integrated Battle Groups (IBG)
3. The cadre review of officers
4. Review of the terms and conditions of Junior Commissioned Officers and Other Ranks

 

Way ahead

The overall transformation will also see a reduction in the size of the 1.3 million Army.

 

Background

• After the terrorist attack on the Parliament, the Indian military undertook massive mobilisation but the Army’s formations took weeks to mobilise.
• Following this, the Army formulated a proactive doctrine known as ‘Cold Start’ to launch swift offensive but its existence was consistently denied in the past.
• Its existence was acknowledged for the first time by Gen Rawat in January 2017.

 

The doctrine of Cold Start

• Cold Start doctrine (CSD) is also known as Pro-Active doctrine.
• The ‘Cold Start’ doctrine of the Indian Armed Forces envisages swift deployment of troops on the western border (Pakistan) within days if a situation of a full-blown war arises.
• This doctrine aims to allow Indian forces to conduct sustained attacks while preventing a nuclear retaliation from Pakistan.
• The operation would be carried out by a unified battle group involving various branches of India’s military.
• After the conclusion of Operation Parakram in 2002, the ‘Cold Start’ doctrine began to find a place in the Indian military setup.

 

Source: The Hindu

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