Integrated Battle Groups (IBG)

Carried out by the Mountain Strike Corps in Arunachal Pradesh, Self-contained, Agile, Brigade-sized fighting units, Will be headed by a major general.

Overall Transformation of the Force

  • Restructuring of Army Headquarters
  • Force restructuring includes creation of Integrated Battle Groups (IBG)
  • Cadre review of officers
  • Review of the terms and conditions of Junior Commissioned Officers and Other Ranks
  • To replace the current Cold Start Doctrine.
  • Defensive corps to carry out shallow cross-border thrusts within 72 hours for limited objectives such as the capture of territory.
  • Cross-border operations.
  • Defensive roles to withstand an enemy attack.

Integrated Units for the Border

  • Artillery
  • Armored
  • Combat engineers
  • Signal units
  • Resources would depend on Threat, Terrain and Task, able to mobilize in 12 to 48 hours based on the location.

Significance of IBG

  • Formulation of a proactive doctrine.
  • Cold Start to launch swift offensive.

Cold Start

  • A military doctrine
  • Developed by the Indian Armed Forces.
  • It consists of various branches of India՚s military conducting offensive operations as part of unified battlegroups.
  • Swiftly launch strikes against adversary in case of hostilities.
  • The offensive IBGs would quickly mobilize and make thrust into enemy territory for strikes.
  • Defensive IBGs would hold ground at vulnerable points or where enemy action is expected.

Present Status of IBG

  • Test-bedded at the 9 Corps at the western border with Pakistan.
  • Army is fine-tuning them based on ground feedback.
  • Critical gaps in the operations of the IBGs.
  • Resources given to IBG for signals were found to be insufficient.

Examrace Team at Aug 21, 2021