Indian Army checks new Integrated Battle Group concept.

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat has reviewed the first of its kind war games to test the readiness of the newly conceived Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) held at Sela in Arunachal Pradesh. Abhishek Bhalla reports in India Today.

Indian army's combat strengths would be different as per the terrain and requirements (Picture source: PTI)

Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat has reviewed the first of its kind wargames to test the readiness of the newly conceived Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) held at Sela in Arunachal Pradesh around 90 km from the Line of Actual Control. The aim of the exercise was to validate and synergise the activities of all arms and services in a high altitude environment. The initial plan was to have the exercise in lower reaches of Arunachal Pradesh but that would defeat the purpose as the army needs to test the capabilities of these new assault formations in areas where the battle would be fought. These places are above 15,000 ft where the forward battalions and posts exist.

The IBGs are new formations that the Indian Army is in the process of setting up to enhance its combat capabilities by being swift and more potent while launching assaults on the enemy. IBGs will be armed with capabilities specific to terrain and threats. The IBGs will do away with the army functioning in separate wings and will bring together all fighting capabilities like infantry, artillery, air defence under one command at the Corp level formations of the Army.

The combat strengths would be different as per the terrain and requirements. So in the mountains, it will be artillery that will need to be synergised with infantry battalions; in the deserts, it would mean bringing armored units armed with tanks with other wings.

Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat (Picture source: PTI)