Stepping up with new ideas, Indian Army all set to raise new battle formations along Pakistan border

New Delhi, June 19: With new vision and new josh, the defence system of India is gearing up to step up in order to carry out swift battle against enemies. With this framework and aiming to strengthen its abilities during wars, the Indian Army is going to raise new lethal battle formations along the borders with Pakistan by October. The Army is also slated to raise the first few Integrated Battle Groups (IBG) along the Pakistan border, following which it will start simultaneously raising them on the China border too.

 

It has been reported that the Indian Army carried out exercises to test the Integrated Battle Groups concept under the Western Command. Receiving a positive feedback, the forces have decided to start the new battle formation by raising two to three IBGs along Pakistan border.

Having a detailed discussion on the exercise and its feedback, 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 records, the Army tested two types of configurations of the IBG which includes 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 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. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has also promised full support to the Army chief in modernising the Army and push all of its modernisation projects.