https://www.ibtimes.co.in/cold-star...ups-be-based-jammu-punjab-rajasthan-803445?fb
Defence establishment gives the 'Cold
Start' doctrine more teeth by raising
integrated battle groups (IBG) that can
rapidly deploy and strike deep across
the border
The Indian Army's proposed shift of focus
to regular field formations, trimming its
involvement in non-core organizations, is
aimed at giving its 'Cold Start' doctrine
more teeth, enabling lightning strikes deep
inside enemy territory, reports suggest.
Though the proposal was made some time
back, it has significance in view of
developments in Jammu and Kashmir and
deterioration of diplomatic relations with
Pakistan.
Tension has been reigning high in the
Valley and across the Line of Control (LoC)
with Azad Kashmir (Azad Kashmir) and
the international border following the
abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A in part
removing the area's special constitutional
status and bifurcating the state into Union
Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and
Ladakh, amid hostile statements from the
government in Islamabad.
The general perception in the defence
circles is that the presence of IBGs would
have boosted the armed forces' confidence
when the Indian Air Force (IAF) planes
carried out surgical strikes on Jaish-e-
Mohammed (JeM) terrorist camps deep
inside the Pakistani territory on Balakot in
February to avenge the Pulwama terrorist
strike. The IAF scrambled a posse of
planes including Mirage 2000, Sukhois
(Su-30MKI) and MiG-21 Bison to defend the
skies against intruding Pakistan Air Force
(PAF) formation including F-16s.
defence establishment has begun
raising the integrated battle groups (IBG)
capable of rapid mobilization and decisive
action even on the foreign territory as part
of its modernisation plan, according to the
media reports. The new self-contained
IBGs, centred around T-90S main-battle
tanks (MBT), with a mix of infantry, artillery,
air defence, signals and engineering corp
personnel, will be at the command of Major
Generals, a report on the Times of
India website says. The plan is to raise two
to three IBGs for the plains of Jammu,
Punjab and Rajasthan for the Pakistan
border by October-November, while those
meant for China will come up later under
the new 17 Mountain Strike Corps, the
report said.
By reducing the manpower by about 27,000
personnel in organizations engaged in non-
core operations, the establishment hopes
to save about Rs 1,600 crore, which could
be deployed in the modernisation
programme, the report says. A study has
termed Indian Army a top-heavy force of
12.5 lakh personnel struggling to rein in
skyrocketing revenue expenditure and
salary bill.
Indian Army has about 1,75,000 officers
and soldiers deployed in organizations
ranging from the Military Engineer Services,
National Cadet Corps, Border Roads
Organization, Territorial Army and Sainik
Schools to the operationally-crucial Assam
Rifles, Rashtriya Rifles and Strategic
Forces Command, all of which do not
come under the regular standing Army,
according to the report. "A new
comprehensive study, chaired by the
director-general (perspective planning) at
the Army headquarters, has recommended
the reduction of Army manpower in such
organizations by about 27,000 personnel as
well as their restructuring for better
efficiency and effectiveness," the report
said citing an unidentified source.
A proposal aims at withdrawing soldiers
deployed in 'non-core activities' in such
establishments called 'composition
table-2' (CT-2) organizations. It is being
forwarded to the defence ministry for
approval. The study was conducted in an
effort to implement wider reforms that will
transform Indian Army into a lean and
rapidly-deployable and operationally
versatile force. According to indications,
the army may have to slash manpower by
around 1.5 lakh personnel over the next six-
to-seven years to save revenue spend of
around Rs 6,000-7,000 crore annually.
Media reports earlier suggested that IA had
conducted four studies on force
reorganization and optimization, flattening
headquarters at various levels, cadre
review and terms of engagement for
officers and jawans. The government will
soon issue a "general sanction
letter" (GSL) triggering reforms to
restructure and downsize the army
headquarters in New Delhi. The measures
include the relocation of 229 officers on
staff duties to frontline operational posts
and creation of a new post of deputy chief
(strategy) for military operations,
intelligence, logistics and strategic
planning, among others.
Defence establishment gives the 'Cold
Start' doctrine more teeth by raising
integrated battle groups (IBG) that can
rapidly deploy and strike deep across
the border
The Indian Army's proposed shift of focus
to regular field formations, trimming its
involvement in non-core organizations, is
aimed at giving its 'Cold Start' doctrine
more teeth, enabling lightning strikes deep
inside enemy territory, reports suggest.
Though the proposal was made some time
back, it has significance in view of
developments in Jammu and Kashmir and
deterioration of diplomatic relations with
Pakistan.
Tension has been reigning high in the
Valley and across the Line of Control (LoC)
with Azad Kashmir (Azad Kashmir) and
the international border following the
abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A in part
removing the area's special constitutional
status and bifurcating the state into Union
Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and
Ladakh, amid hostile statements from the
government in Islamabad.
The general perception in the defence
circles is that the presence of IBGs would
have boosted the armed forces' confidence
when the Indian Air Force (IAF) planes
carried out surgical strikes on Jaish-e-
Mohammed (JeM) terrorist camps deep
inside the Pakistani territory on Balakot in
February to avenge the Pulwama terrorist
strike. The IAF scrambled a posse of
planes including Mirage 2000, Sukhois
(Su-30MKI) and MiG-21 Bison to defend the
skies against intruding Pakistan Air Force
(PAF) formation including F-16s.
defence establishment has begun
raising the integrated battle groups (IBG)
capable of rapid mobilization and decisive
action even on the foreign territory as part
of its modernisation plan, according to the
media reports. The new self-contained
IBGs, centred around T-90S main-battle
tanks (MBT), with a mix of infantry, artillery,
air defence, signals and engineering corp
personnel, will be at the command of Major
Generals, a report on the Times of
India website says. The plan is to raise two
to three IBGs for the plains of Jammu,
Punjab and Rajasthan for the Pakistan
border by October-November, while those
meant for China will come up later under
the new 17 Mountain Strike Corps, the
report said.
By reducing the manpower by about 27,000
personnel in organizations engaged in non-
core operations, the establishment hopes
to save about Rs 1,600 crore, which could
be deployed in the modernisation
programme, the report says. A study has
termed Indian Army a top-heavy force of
12.5 lakh personnel struggling to rein in
skyrocketing revenue expenditure and
salary bill.
Indian Army has about 1,75,000 officers
and soldiers deployed in organizations
ranging from the Military Engineer Services,
National Cadet Corps, Border Roads
Organization, Territorial Army and Sainik
Schools to the operationally-crucial Assam
Rifles, Rashtriya Rifles and Strategic
Forces Command, all of which do not
come under the regular standing Army,
according to the report. "A new
comprehensive study, chaired by the
director-general (perspective planning) at
the Army headquarters, has recommended
the reduction of Army manpower in such
organizations by about 27,000 personnel as
well as their restructuring for better
efficiency and effectiveness," the report
said citing an unidentified source.
A proposal aims at withdrawing soldiers
deployed in 'non-core activities' in such
establishments called 'composition
table-2' (CT-2) organizations. It is being
forwarded to the defence ministry for
approval. The study was conducted in an
effort to implement wider reforms that will
transform Indian Army into a lean and
rapidly-deployable and operationally
versatile force. According to indications,
the army may have to slash manpower by
around 1.5 lakh personnel over the next six-
to-seven years to save revenue spend of
around Rs 6,000-7,000 crore annually.
Media reports earlier suggested that IA had
conducted four studies on force
reorganization and optimization, flattening
headquarters at various levels, cadre
review and terms of engagement for
officers and jawans. The government will
soon issue a "general sanction
letter" (GSL) triggering reforms to
restructure and downsize the army
headquarters in New Delhi. The measures
include the relocation of 229 officers on
staff duties to frontline operational posts
and creation of a new post of deputy chief
(strategy) for military operations,
intelligence, logistics and strategic
planning, among others.
