INTEGRATED BATTLE GROUPS

About:

• What is it? Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) are brigade-sized, agile, self-sufficient combat formations, which can swiftly launch strikes against adversary in case of hostilities.
  
  
• Features:
  • Each IBG would be tailor-made based on Threat, Terrain and Task and resources will be allotted based on the three Ts. An IBG operating in a desert needs to be constituted differently from an IBG operating in the mountains.
    
    
  • They need to be light so they will be low on logistics. They will be able to mobilise within 12-48 hrs based on the location.
    
    
  • The IBGs will also be defensive and offensive. While the offensive IBGs would quickly mobilise and make thrust into enemy territory for strikes, defensive IBGs would hold ground at vulnerable points or where enemy action is expected.
    
    
  • The number of IBGs has not been decided yet.
    
    
  
  
  

Terminologies: Command, corps and brigades

• While a command is the largest static formation of the Army spread across a defined geography, a corps is the largest mobile formation.
  
  
• Typically each corps has about 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.