Fewer Tanks, More Precision and "Light Formations"
Significant changes in the ground forces of the IDF. A senior officer: "It =

is nothing less than a revolution"

IsraelDefense 22/4/2014
http://www.israeldefense.com/?CategoryID=3D483&ArticleID=3D2868

Significant changes in the ground forces of the IDF: in the context of the =

recent changes, the number of tanks has been substantially reduced. Several =

tank formations were deactivated, while on the other hand, the number of =

"light formations" =96 units equipped with wheeled vehicles and capable of =

advancing on the ground very quickly and launching precision-guided =

munitions =96 has been increased.

These formations can also be suitable for operations in the strategic depth =

of the battlefield (in 2012, a depth operations command was established =

within IDF GHQ).

Changes were introduced even in the traditional armored divisions when it =

was determined, as standard, that each division include an infantry brigade =

and diversified artillery fire capabilities.

Additionally, last February the IDF established a new regional division =96 =

the 210th "Bashan" division =96 that would be responsible for the on-going =

combat operations in the Golan Heights sector.

Within the tank battalions, the number of tanks in each company was reduced=
. =

On the other hand, the battalion HQ was reinforced so as to enable it to =

operate as part of small, independent units and not only as part of large =

formations.

While these changes were being introduced, a decision was made to launch th=
e =

next phase of Project Tzayad. Project Tzayad =96 Digital Ground Army =96 is=
one =

of the primary projects of the IDF Ground Arm. All regular and reservist =

formations have recently completed the assimilation of the new computer and =

C3 systems, thereby providing effective C3 capabilities to all of the =

echelons on the ground.

The new stage in the deployment of the communication and C2 systems, with =

the emphasis in this stage placed on providing battalion commanders and =

other echelons with an expanded communication bandwidth and connecting the =

field echelons with airborne fire support elements.

This project is a part of the "Networked IDF" concept announced by the Chie=
f =

of Staff as a primary objective for 2014 and the coming years. In the =

context of the "Networked IDF" effort, all of the intelligence gathering an=
d =

fire elements will be interconnected in order to enable them to "handle" =

multiple targets simultaneously, almost in real time.

In the context of this project, a standard battlefield charting =

infrastructure was specified for the various service branches, as well as a =

uniform standard for reporting map references of targets to be attacked, so =

that any target may be reported and designated through ground control =

resources and then attacked from the air (or vice versa).

A new system developed by the Ness Company is part of the C3 infrastructure =

that makes this move possible. The system enables the user to designate a =

12-digit target on the screen of a portable computer and then have the =

target engaged by diversified fire systems.

Another conceptual change that has come into effect recently is the =

implementation of the concept of Intelligence-Based Warfare by the infantry =

units of the IDF.

The new concept was developed by the IDF Intelligence Division in =

cooperation with the Ground Arm and based on the new cutting-edge C3 =

systems. According to this concept, tactical intelligence information is =

delivered for the benefit of field operations, all the way to the company =

and platoon commanders, using the Tzayad (Digital Ground Army) systems. The =

information is delivered to them continuously, even during actual combat.

"We reduced the number of tanks but what has remained will be much =

stronger," said a senior IDF officer in reference to the significant change=
s =

outlined above.

"We endeavor to achieve force multipliers and precision fire capabilities =

based on real-time intelligence. The IDF Navy is also incorporated in these =

changes and as far as we are concerned, it is nothing less than a =

revolution=94. =

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