NEW DELHI: Apart from the impending move to create unified tri-Service theatre commands, the new govt will also take a call on the long-pending restructuring of some Army formations into self-contained integrated battle groups (IBGs) that can mobilise fast and hit hard, sources said.
The 12-lakh strong Army has already carved out two IBGs under the 9 ‘Pivot’ Corps (headquarters in Yol) on western front with Pakistan under Phase-1 of the ‘pilot project’.Five IBGs, in turn, have been created in 17 ‘Mountain Strike’ Corps (Panagarh) in eastern one with China in Phase-2.
“These integrated all-arms IBGs have been successfully war-gamed and validated in multiple exercises. Army HQ had earlier submitted the report on Phase-1 of ‘IBG-isation’ to defence ministry. But MoD has also asked for Phase-2 report before official GSL (government sanction letter) can be issued,” a source told TOI.
Army remains all gung-ho about the role of IBGs, which it believes will ensure a greater and swifter offensive punch. But it remains to be seen how exactly the IBG model dovetails into the three proposed theatre commands to be constituted for China, Pakistan and the Indian Ocean region.
“Theatre commands constitute a strategic-level reform involving Army, IAF and Navy. IBG model is a tactical re-organisation within Army, which has already been delayed quite a bit. But since IBG-isation has some financial implications, a GSL is required,” another source said.
As reported by TOI earlier, a composite IBG will have 5,000-6,000 soldiers and a varying mix of infantry, tanks, artillery, air defence, signals, engineers and other units permanently deployed together. As of now, these units come together only during exercises or actual combat.
In effect, much more agile IBGs will be larger than brigades (3,000 soldiers each) but smaller than divisions (12,000 soldiers each) and will be headed by Major-Generals. Each IBG is to be configured as per the threat perception, the type of terrain involved and the operational task to be executed.
So, IBGs meant for China will revolve more around infantry, light artillery and light mechanised forces geared for mountain warfare, while those for Pakistan will be focused on main-battle tanks and heavy artillery due to the plains involved.
The original plan was to first carve out 8-10 IBGs, then wait for them to settle down, and finally create more over the years. Overall, the Army has 14 corps (40,000 to 70,000 troops in each), with four of them being ‘strike’ or offensive formations.
While the 17 Corps was raised with China in mind, the 1 Corps (Mathura) was also “reoriented and equipped” for the northern borders after the military confrontation in eastern Ladakh erupted in May 2020. The two Pakistan-specific strike corps are 2 Corps (Ambala) and 21 Corps (Bhopal).