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Army to raise new battle formations along Pakistan border by October
The Indian Army is going to raise the first few Integrated Battle Groups (IBG) along the Pakistan border and then it will start simultaneously raising them on the China border too.
ANI | Jun 19, 2019, 02.00 PM IST
Army soldiers in Pulwama district of South Kashmir. (Representative image)
NEW DELHI: Aiming to further strengthen its ability to carry out swift strikes during wars, the Indian Army is going to raise new lethal battle formations along the borders with Pakistan by October.
The Indian Army is going to raise the first few Integrated Battle Groups (IBG) along the Pakistan border and then it will start simultaneously raising them on the China border too.
"We carried out an exercise to test the Integrated Battle Groups concept under the Western Command. The feedback from the formations and top commanders has been very positive and that is why we are going to start by raising two to three IBGs along Pakistan border by October this year," top sources in the Army said.
The sources said that the discussion regarding the exercise and feedback was discussed in detail by the seven Army commanders in the Army headquarters in their war room last week, and the commanders-in-chief have been given the powers to raise the IBGs in their respective areas of responsibilities.
The first three IBGs to be raised will have elements from the different formations of the Western Command.
As per sources, the Army has tested two types of configurations of the IBG during the exercise including one for offensive roles, which during hostilities involves cross-border operations and the other for defensive postures to withstand an enemy onslaught. During the exercise, IBGs will be used instead of brigades.
A brigade comprises of about three to four units, each having about 800 troops. The IBGs are planned to be commanded by officers of the rank of Major General and would have the manpower of around 5,000 troops each.
Now proven successful, the IBGs are being seen as game changers by the force and are going to entirely change the way the Indian Army plans to fight conventional wars.
The IBGs are part of Army Chief General Bipin Rawat's initiatives to reorganise and right-size the operational structure of the force to make it more effective and lethal during wars.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has also promised full support to the Army chief in modernising the Army and push all of its stuck modernisation projects.
Army to raise new battle formations along Pakistan border by October
Army to raise new battle formations along Pakistan border by October
The Indian Army is going to raise the first few Integrated Battle Groups (IBG) along the Pakistan border and then it will start simultaneously raising them on the China border too.
ANI | Jun 19, 2019, 02.00 PM IST
Army soldiers in Pulwama district of South Kashmir. (Representative image)
NEW DELHI: Aiming to further strengthen its ability to carry out swift strikes during wars, the Indian Army is going to raise new lethal battle formations along the borders with Pakistan by October.
The Indian Army is going to raise the first few Integrated Battle Groups (IBG) along the Pakistan border and then it will start simultaneously raising them on the China border too.
"We carried out an exercise to test the Integrated Battle Groups concept under the Western Command. The feedback from the formations and top commanders has been very positive and that is why we are going to start by raising two to three IBGs along Pakistan border by October this year," top sources in the Army said.
The sources said that the discussion regarding the exercise and feedback was discussed in detail by the seven Army commanders in the Army headquarters in their war room last week, and the commanders-in-chief have been given the powers to raise the IBGs in their respective areas of responsibilities.
The first three IBGs to be raised will have elements from the different formations of the Western Command.
As per sources, the Army has tested two types of configurations of the IBG during the exercise including one for offensive roles, which during hostilities involves cross-border operations and the other for defensive postures to withstand an enemy onslaught. During the exercise, IBGs will be used instead of brigades.
A brigade comprises of about three to four units, each having about 800 troops. The IBGs are planned to be commanded by officers of the rank of Major General and would have the manpower of around 5,000 troops each.
Now proven successful, the IBGs are being seen as game changers by the force and are going to entirely change the way the Indian Army plans to fight conventional wars.
The IBGs are part of Army Chief General Bipin Rawat's initiatives to reorganise and right-size the operational structure of the force to make it more effective and lethal during wars.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has also promised full support to the Army chief in modernising the Army and push all of its stuck modernisation projects.
Army to raise new battle formations along Pakistan border by October
More reporting on the to be formed IBGs :
Indian Army wants to change the way it fights enemies
With Integrated Battle Groups or light fighting units, response to a situation and movement of troops will become much faster.
Updated: Oct 10, 2018 10:32 IST, Sudhi Ranjan Sen, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
The way India fights its enemies could change with Integrated Battle Groups (IBG) comprising critical elements such as artillery, mechanised infantry, armour, signals and air support likely to replace the current somewhat, antiquated structures, Corps and Brigades.(PTI File Photo)
The way India fights its enemies could change with Integrated Battle Groups (IBG) comprising critical elements such as artillery, mechanised infantry, armour, signals and air support likely to replace the current somewhat, antiquated structures, Corps and Brigades.
IBG is one of the key issues before army commanders who are meeting in New Delhi, a top defence ministry official aware of the matter said, asking not to be identified.
“The proposal is set to be cleared,” this person added.
Integrated Battle Groups will change things in several ways. “For one, IBG will bring in more mobility, increase our ability to concentrate force within a specific battle theatre and, should the need arise, make it much easier to switch forces across theatres,” a top Indian army officer said on condition of anonymity.
“These are self-contained, light fighting units that can deliver the required punch if backed by the right kind of resources and technology. Response to a situation and movement of troops will become much faster,” Lieutenant General KJ Singh (retd) the former Western Army Commander said, explaining the rationale and benefits of IBG.
The fighting formations of the army are divided between Holding Corps , whose main task is defensive i.e. to hold ground , and Strike Corps who are assigned an offensive role inside enemy territory.
Despite efforts over the past few years, Strike Corps do take time to move towards the border or the areas of thrust.
Movements of Strike Corps or their elements are also always under intense scrutiny by enemy countries. “IBG will allow for more flexibility, deployment and employment. It allows the Indian Army to be much more pro-active. All battles today are fought in an integrated manner,” Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia (retd) said, adding a caveat that the idea still “ needs to be implemented with care.”
Today, corps, each comprising at least three divisions, which, in turn, have three brigades under them, are the largest operational field formations. The brigades, comprising at least three regiments, each with around 800 fighting men, are the lynchpins or the base units that are used to project force.
“In case of hostilities, brigades often need to be augmented with Air, Mechanised Infantry, Armour, Artillery elements according to the mission and requirement. Once IBG come into play, having to augment formations with air, artillery etc is done away with since they are organised with all these units to start with and function as composite fighting unit,” another senior army official said on condition of anonymity.
IBG, however, will not completely replace the current structure of corps being the main pivots or field formations.
They will “be deployed according to the terrain and the task at hand,” the army official said.
The coming of IBG will also bring about changes in the command and control structure. Currently, a Lieutenant General commands a Corps and a Major General leads a Division. According to one of the proposals before the army commanders a Major General will head an Integrated Battle Group.
Indian Army wants to change the way it fights enemies
Indian Army wants to change the way it fights enemies
With Integrated Battle Groups or light fighting units, response to a situation and movement of troops will become much faster.
Updated: Oct 10, 2018 10:32 IST, Sudhi Ranjan Sen, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
The way India fights its enemies could change with Integrated Battle Groups (IBG) comprising critical elements such as artillery, mechanised infantry, armour, signals and air support likely to replace the current somewhat, antiquated structures, Corps and Brigades.(PTI File Photo)
The way India fights its enemies could change with Integrated Battle Groups (IBG) comprising critical elements such as artillery, mechanised infantry, armour, signals and air support likely to replace the current somewhat, antiquated structures, Corps and Brigades.
IBG is one of the key issues before army commanders who are meeting in New Delhi, a top defence ministry official aware of the matter said, asking not to be identified.
“The proposal is set to be cleared,” this person added.
Integrated Battle Groups will change things in several ways. “For one, IBG will bring in more mobility, increase our ability to concentrate force within a specific battle theatre and, should the need arise, make it much easier to switch forces across theatres,” a top Indian army officer said on condition of anonymity.
“These are self-contained, light fighting units that can deliver the required punch if backed by the right kind of resources and technology. Response to a situation and movement of troops will become much faster,” Lieutenant General KJ Singh (retd) the former Western Army Commander said, explaining the rationale and benefits of IBG.
The fighting formations of the army are divided between Holding Corps , whose main task is defensive i.e. to hold ground , and Strike Corps who are assigned an offensive role inside enemy territory.
Despite efforts over the past few years, Strike Corps do take time to move towards the border or the areas of thrust.
Movements of Strike Corps or their elements are also always under intense scrutiny by enemy countries. “IBG will allow for more flexibility, deployment and employment. It allows the Indian Army to be much more pro-active. All battles today are fought in an integrated manner,” Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia (retd) said, adding a caveat that the idea still “ needs to be implemented with care.”
Today, corps, each comprising at least three divisions, which, in turn, have three brigades under them, are the largest operational field formations. The brigades, comprising at least three regiments, each with around 800 fighting men, are the lynchpins or the base units that are used to project force.
“In case of hostilities, brigades often need to be augmented with Air, Mechanised Infantry, Armour, Artillery elements according to the mission and requirement. Once IBG come into play, having to augment formations with air, artillery etc is done away with since they are organised with all these units to start with and function as composite fighting unit,” another senior army official said on condition of anonymity.
IBG, however, will not completely replace the current structure of corps being the main pivots or field formations.
They will “be deployed according to the terrain and the task at hand,” the army official said.
The coming of IBG will also bring about changes in the command and control structure. Currently, a Lieutenant General commands a Corps and a Major General leads a Division. According to one of the proposals before the army commanders a Major General will head an Integrated Battle Group.
Indian Army wants to change the way it fights enemies
A letter to Lt. Gen. Sagat Singh, PVSM, GOC after the 1971 war from Lt. Col. Himmeth Singh, CO of 4th Brig. of Guards.
Dated : 8th February 1972.
This hits close to home for me because I've personally visited Akhaura pass many times. My father was a teenager when the 71 war commenced, he told me many stories of the battle tanks moving in, BSF troops mixing up with Mukti Bahini and going to battle and so on.
This man stands out :
If anybody is interested read this.
Remembering Sagat Singh (1918-2001) - Bharat Rakshak - Indian Army & Land Forces
Dated : 8th February 1972.
This hits close to home for me because I've personally visited Akhaura pass many times. My father was a teenager when the 71 war commenced, he told me many stories of the battle tanks moving in, BSF troops mixing up with Mukti Bahini and going to battle and so on.
This man stands out :
If anybody is interested read this.
Remembering Sagat Singh (1918-2001) - Bharat Rakshak - Indian Army & Land Forces
The article from BR, commendable as it was, is silent on Lt Gen Sagat Singh's role during the 1967 Cho La & Nathu La skirmishes with the PLA.
It's already happening. New guns, helmets, BPJs etc.
Infantry is going to get everything that you keep hearing about on the internet; wearable sensors, comm systems, robotic mules, exoskeletons etc.