For the first time since the raising of its new combat formations, the Indian Army has appointed commanders for its Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs), marking a key step in their operational rollout. Sources told Times Now that four of the six newly designated General Officer Commanding (GoC)-rank officers have assumed charge as IBG commanders. In addition, a Commander of the Fire Support Group (FSG) has also taken over responsibilities on Wednesday.
The IBGs, conceptualised as agile, self-contained fighting formations, are being led by officers of Major General rank.
“There are a total of five IBGs and a FSG as part of the Brahmastra (17) Mountain Strike Corps, which have been operationalised as part of the larger plan of the force as modern, agile and future-ready,” sources added. “Since the Mountain Strike Corps (MSC) had two divisions with three Brigades each under them, the two IBGs have the GoCs of those Divisions as the Commanders.”
The sources added, “The IBGs will have a Brigadier Rank officer as the Chief Operations Officer (COO) under the Commander.” In a normal Division, Brigadier Rank officer functions under the GoC and is called as the Deputy GoC.” A Corps in the Army is commanded by a Lieutenant General (Lt Gen).
The newly operationalised offensive formations “are part of the transformation plan of the Indian Army to make the structure and organisation of the army meet the modern warfare requirements and to shorten the decision making loop for a quick decision making and less reaction time,” they said.
These new raisings had been operationalised earlier after a major test-bedding exercise which had been continuing since 2019. For a start the MSC will have these formations as a pilot project and will be extended to other formations only after a long term analysis.
“The operational efficacy is the sole goal expected from these formations and once found successful only then will more IBGs in other formations be raised, with tweaking as per the threat, task and terrain.”
The IBGs will be configured of all the elements of the Indian Army so that these formations can conduct offensive operations independently. “These formations will have troops from all the arms, support arms and services with the manpower numbering between 5000 to 6000 personnel.”
These formations will have elements from Infantry, Armoured, Artillery, Engineers, Signals, Air Defence and other arms and services and will be ready to move within 12 to 48 hours of receiving an order. This formation will function as a self-contained cohesive fighting formation
In general, a Brigade of the Indian Army is made up of 3000 to 3500 troops and a Division is comprised of personnel numbering between 10,000 to 12,000.
Apart from the five IBGs, the Fire Support Group will be adding weight as per the ground requirements and task assigned. “FSGs, also to be commanded by a Major General, will carry heavy, long-distance, precision attack firepower to shift the balance during the ground operations,” the sources said.