Intelligence Preparation
of the Battlefield (IPB)
1
Intelligence Preparation
of the Battlefield (IPB)
Task : Describe the four steps of IPB.
Condition: In a classroom environment
and given class notes.
Standard: Correctly identify the products
and tools developed during the
IPB process.
2
Intelligence Preparation
of the Battlefield (IPB)
• Doctrinal principles of IPB:
– Evaluate the battlefield’s effects on friendly and
enemy operations.
– Determine the enemy’s possible COAs and arrange
them in the order that the enemy will do them.
– Identify key enemy assets (High Value Targets
(HVTs)) for each enemy COA and where they will
appear on the battlefield (Target Area of Interest
(TAIs)).
– Identify the activities, or lack of activities, and where
they will occur on the battlefield. These activities will
assist in identifying which COA the enemy adopts.
3
Intelligence Preparation
of the Battlefield (IPB)
• IPB accomplishes the following:
– Identifies facts and assumptions about the
battlefield environment and enemy.
– Provides direction for intelligence that
supports the command’s chosen COA.
– Contributes to complete staff synchronization.
4
IPB and the MDMP
IPB
Initial IPB
completed
Mission
brief to
commander
Update
IPB products
complete
IPB products
brought to the
wargame
MDMP
Receipt of
mission
Mission
analysis
Continuous IPB
Initial IPB products
Restated mission
Commander’s intent and guidance
Warning order 2
Staff Products
Battlefield framework
Preliminary movement
COA
development
COA statement and sketches
COA analysis
(wargame)
Wargame results
Task organization
Mission to subordinate units
CCIR
COA
comparison
Refined IPB
completed
Commander’s intial guidance
Warning Order 1
COA
approval
Orders
production
Decision matrix
Approved COA
Refined commander’s intent
Specified type of order
Specified type of rehearsal
HPTL
OPLAN/OPORD
DENOTES: Commander’s input
5
Four Steps of IPB
Define the
Battlefield
Environment
1
4
Determine
Threat COAs
Describe the
Battlefield’s
Effects
2
3
Evaluate the
Threat
6
Tools for IPB
• Higher Headquarters Operations Order
• Graphics
• Staff Estimates
• References:
• Military References
- Soldiers
- Information Systems (Open Source / Classified)
7
Step 1
Define the
Battlefield
Environment
Focus
 ID characteristics of the
battlefield that influence
:
friendly and threat ops.
 Establish the limits of the
area of interest (AI).
 ID gaps in current
intelligence holdings.
8
Step 1 Define the
Battlefield Environment
Characteristics of the Battlefield




Terrain.
Weather.
Logistical infrastructure.
Demographics.
9
Step 1 Define the
Battlefield Environment
 Assigned by higher based on METT-TC.
 METT-TC.
– Mission (combat, support, and stability-increases
specified and implied tasks)
– Enemy (uniformed or not)
– Terrain (increased areas to analyze)
– Troops (more tasks to complete in a more complex
environment)
– Time (difficult to determine)
– Civilians (various ethnic groups)
10
Area of Operations
 Defined by boundaries: left, right, rear, objective.
 Of sufficient size to allow completion of mission.
 CDR has authority and responsibility to operate.
 AO determination must now consider:
- Increased manpower requirements to seize terrain
- Urban terrain aspects
- Mission requirements for Stability and Support
Operations (SOSO)
- Information Operations (IO)
- Restrictive ROE
11
Battle Space
 Battle space is conceptual.
 Higher does not assign it.
 Determined by CDR – Input from
S2 / S3 / Battle staff.
 Serves to focus intelligence development.
 Area in which threat may influence mission,
space, and time.
12
Area of Interest
• The area from which information and intelligence are required to permit planning
• Consider the locations of other activities or characteristics of the environment that might influence
COAs or the commander’s decisions
• Consider any “be prepared” or “on order” missions
• Primary consideration is time
13
Identify Intelligence
Gaps
OUTSIDE AGENCIES
 ANP
 NDS
OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS





World Health Organizations
Other Military Services
Media Sources
Relief Organizations
United Nations Sources
DATABASES
SERCHES AND
INTERNET SITES
 Historical Databases
 Topographical Surveys
 Intelligence Estimates
 INTERNET Open Sources
 University Research
 International Sources
14
Step 1 Define the
Battlefield Environment
 Success results in:
─ Common Operational Picture (COP) of the Operational
Environment
─ Saves time and effort by focusing on those areas and features
which will influence COAs and command decisions
 Consequences of failure:
– Waste time and effort collecting and evaluating intel on features of
the battlefield environment that will not influence success of the
command’s mission
– May lead to the command’s surprise and unpreparedness when
some overlooked feature of the battlefield exerts an influence on
success of the command’s mission
15
Step 2
Describe
the
Battlefield’s
Effects
Terrain Analysis
OCOKA
Weather Analysis
Visibility
Wind
Precipitation
Cloud
Temperature
16
Step 2 Describe the
Battlefield’s Effects
 Analyze the battlefield environment:
– Terrain analysis
– Weather analysis
– Analysis of other characteristics of the battlefield
 Describe the battlefield’s effects on threat and
friendly capabilities and broad COAs.
17
Step 2 Describe the
Battlefield’s Effects
(Terrain)
OCOKA





Observations and Fields of Fire.
Cover and Concealment.
Obstacles.
Key Terrain.
Avenues of Approach.
18
Modified Combined Obstacle Overlay (MCOO)
K9
AA3C
LOA
(PL Gold)
K8
Vegetation
+
Surface Drainage
+
Other Obstacles
K7b
PL Zinc
AA4A
K7a
Combined Obstacle
Overlay (COO)
K5
K6
K3
AA4B
K4
K2
PL Silver
+
Mobility Corridors
Avenues of Approach
Existing counter-mobility obstacles
Key Terrain
SEVERLY RESTRICTIVE TERRAIN
RESTRICTIVE TERRAIN
UNFORDABLE RIVER
OR RESERVOIR
K1
FORDABLE RIVER
CITY/VILLAGE
KEY TERRAIN
MCOO
AA 1
19
Weather Effect (WX)
Resources
 Staff Weather Officer (SWO)
Aviation WX Team.
 Air Force Resources.
 INTERNET.
 Weather Radio.
20
Light & Weather Effects
LIGHT TABLE
1200
1800
2400
0600
SS:1704
7 JAN
SS:1705
SR:0648
MS:0630
8 JAN
8 JAN
BMNT:0436
EENT:1950
SS:1706
BMNT:0435
EENT:1951
TEMP
7 JAN
BMNT:0437
EENT:1949
9 JAN
1200
SR:06:47
MS:0549
HIGH 110
SR:0649
MS:0716
9 JAN
LOW 76 F
WIND NNW at 19 mph
CEILING
> 5000 FT
VISIBILITY
PRECIP
LIGHT
HUMIDITY 93%
> 3000M
21
Weather Effects
PERIOD 270600LDEC to 010600LJAN
Impacted
Items
Clouds
F
E
Precip
F
E
Wind
F
E
Visibility
F
Temp
E
F
E
ADA
Armor
Artillery
Aviation
CSS
ENG
NBC
Personnel
Intel
No Impact
Moderate
Impact
Effectiveness 25-75%
Severe
Impact
Effectiveness 0-25%
22
Step 2 Describe the
Battlefield’s Effects
(Other Effects)
 Demographics: Identify population
groups that are sympathetic,
neutral, and hostile.
 Infrastructure of the Battlefield:
Airfields, roads, railways and
Host Nation Support capabilities.
23
Step 2 Describe the
Battlefield’s Effects
(Other Effects)
AREAS: Locations or aspects of the terrain that normally have no military
significance.
STRUCTURES: Location, function, and capabilities of structures and
their ability to support military operations.
CAPABILITIES: Who provides key functions or services to populace?
ORGANIZATIONS: NGO, terrorist groups, and criminals.
PEOPLE : Civilians that could influence the military mission (both inside
and outside AO).
EVENTS : Activities that impact civilian lives or military operations.
24
Step 2 Describe the
Battlefield’s Effects
 Success results in:
- Allowing the commander to quickly choose
and exploit the terrain that best supports
the friendly mission.
 Consequences of failure:
- The commander will fail to exploit the
opportunities that the environment provides.
- The threat will find and exploit opportunities
in a manner the commander did not
anticipate.
25
Step 3
Determination of threat:
 Capabilities.
Evaluate
the
Threat
 Doctrinal principles.
 TTPs.
26
Capabilities
9 Order of Battle Factors
Composition
Logistics Support
Disposition
Combat Effectiveness
Strength
Electronic Data Material
Preferred Tactics
Training Status
Miscellaneous Data
27
Step 3 Evaluate the Threat
 Update or create threat models:
- Convert threat doctrine or patterns of
operation to graphics (situational templates)
- Describe in words the threat’s tactics and options
- Identify High Value Targets (HVTs)
 Identify Threat Capabilities: includes not only range
of available weapons systems, but upgrades to those
systems, to include innovations of systems (ex. IED).
28
Step 3 Evaluate the Threat
SOSO Considerations:
 Threat ID becomes more difficult.
- Lack of uniforms and equipment
- Varying levels of organization D cell Batteries
 Increased threat options.
- Terrorist-type activity
Firing Wire
Large scale demolitions
Covert collection and operations
Car Alarm
Explosive
Charge
Electric Blasting
Cap
- Unconventional & Conventional Capability
- Effective environment for Economy
of Force missions:
Sniper
Booby Traps
RPGs
Mortars
IEDs
29
Step 3 Evaluate the Threat
Determine THREAT HVTs
BASED ON:
Mission Requirements
Threat Capabilities
SOSO
 Key Individuals
 IO Targets
Combat Operations
 Casualty Producing
Weapons Systems.
 C2 Structure
 Reverse BOS Analysis
30
Step 3 Evaluate the Threat
 Success results in:
– Allowing the commander to know what the
threat is and is not capable of and trained to do
in similar situations.
 Consequences of failure:
– The staff will lack the intelligence needed for
planning.
– The threat will surprise the friendly force with
capabilities for which the S2 failed to account.
– The staff may waste time and effort planning
against threat capabilities that do not exist.
31
Step 4
ECOAs
Determine
Threat
COAs





Situation Template(s).
Adaptive Operations.
Pattern Analysis.
Event Template.
Event Matrix.
Replicate the set of COAs that the threat
CDR and his staff are considering.
32
Step 4 Determine
Threat COAs
 Identify the threat’s likely objectives and desired
end state.
 Determine system capabilities and
vulnerabilities.
 Identify the full set of ECOAs available to the
threat.
 Evaluate and prioritize each ECOA.
 Develop each ECOA in the amount of detail
time allows.
 Identify initial collection requirements.
33
Situation Templates
 Graphic depiction of the threat, with terrain
and weather constraints, at a particular location
and time of an operation.
 Focus on the key area agreed upon by the S2
and the S3.
 Determine critical events.
 May need more than one SITTEMP per ECOA.
34
Guidelines for Depicting
SITTEMPs
 Determine the snapshot in time to depict the
enemy.
 Adjust the SITTEMP and battlefield framework
IAW:
- Weather and Terrain Effects
- Threat Doctrine / Preferred Tactics
 Template 2 levels down from YOUR unit.
 Depict all BOS / Special Munitions available to the
threat, as they support each ECOA.
 Address the full spectrum of enemy capabilities.
 Use correct symbology.
35
Conventional Warfare Situational Template
(SITTEMP)
• EVALUATE THE THREAT:
– Composition, disposition, strength, tactics, combat
effectiveness
• DETERMINE THREAT COURSES OF ACTION
FIRE SAC
Threat
Model
MCOO
EN COAs
FIRE SAC
SITTEMP
36
Step 4 Determine
Threat COAs
Regional Operations
• Destruction of all
enemy maneuver
elements
• Overwhelm with
echelons
• Attack from march to
timetable
• Rely on use of
massed artillery
systems
Adaptive Operations
 Destroy key systems.
 Eliminate resolve.
 Neutralize technological
overmatch.
 “Create a window of
opportunity”.
 Preserve own combat
power.
37
Step 4 Determine
Threat COAs
Event-based
not
Maneuver-based
Events
Sniper
Intended Effects
Loss of
Public
Support
Bombing
Mortar
Attack
Desired End State
Lower
Morale
• ANA Fails
• CF Leaves
Operation
too long
Observe
Only
Operation
too costly
38
Step 4 Determine
Threat COAs
Tools to help determine Threat TTPs and
Patterns Analysis:
 Incident Overlay.
 Pattern Analysis Plot Chart.
 Time-event Chart.
 Association and Activities Matrix.
 Link Diagram.
39
Step 4 Determine
Threat COAs
Incident Overlay: Herat
K
K
K
Kidnapping
VBIED
Rocket/Mortor
Point of Impact
40
Step 4 Determine
Threat COAs
Pattern Analysis:
How are the threat’s activities related?
PARAMILITARY
CAMP
0001 L
2200 L
CHEMICAL
0200 L
MORTAR
2000 L
0400 L
AMBUSH
DIRECT
ACTION
PROPOGANDA
1800 L
6 7 8 9 10111 1314 0600 L
2
DRIVE BY
BOMB
0800 L
1600 L
RECON
CACHE
1000 L
1400 L
1200 L
DETAINEES
41
Step 4 Determine
Threat COAs
Pattern Analysis:
Are we creating patterns? Does our pattern coincide with
0001 L
threat activities?
2200 L
LOGPACK
0200 L
0400 L
1900 L
BUB (KEY LDR
MOVEMENT)
SECURITY
PATROL
1800 L
6 7 8 9 10111 1314
2
CHECK PT
OPS
0600 L
0800 L
HN LIAISON
1600 L
1000 L
1400 L
1200 L
42
Step 4 Determine
Threat COAs
Association Matrix:
Name one
Name two
Name three
Name four
Suspected
Known
43
Step 4 Determine
Threat COAs
Activities Matrix:
Name one
Name two
Name three
Name four
TRAINING
PROPAGANDA
TERRORISM
PSYOPS
Known
INTEL
Suspected
44
Step 4 Determine
Threat COAs
Link Diagram:
Intel
F
Foreign Support
B
A
Kidnapping
C
J
Finance
Propaganda
Training
G
E
Terror
Extortion
D
Logistics
K
H
I
Recruiting
45
Step 4 Determine
Threat COAs

Event Template: Identifies critical enemy
activity locations. Guide for intelligence
collection, and Intel Surveillance Recon (ISR)
planning.

Event Matrix: Supports Event template.
Provides details on:
- Type Threat activity expected in NAI
- Time the NAI is expected to be active
- Relationship to other events on the
battlefield
4
46
Event Template (EVENT TEMP)
MAP
MCOO
Enemy SITTEMP 1
Enemy SITTEMP 2
Enemy SITTEMP 3
Event Template
NAI
3
H+1
NAI
1
NAI
2
H+2
• On each Situation template identify locations to look for enemy activity
• Focus on locations and activities that assist in identifying which COA the enemy has chosen
• The key locations that you choose are called Named Areas of Interest (NAI)
• The event template will help in development of the Reconnaissance & Surveillance Plan
47
Event Matrix Example
48
Why have an ISR plan?
 Fill in information gaps.
 Answer Commander’s PIR.
 Support Commander’s decision making.
R&S Tasking Matrix
UNIT
Tasking
PIR
NAI
LOCATION
SCT
Surveillance
1
B2 CH512420
START
REPORTING
STOP
EVENT OR INDICATOR
1945
fixing force moves south on Rt
Red
2145
6 BTRs & 3 T-72 moving south
REMARKS
49
Targeted Area of Interest (TAI)
Template
MAP
MCOO
Enemy SITTEMP 1
Enemy SITTEMP 2
Enemy SITTEMP 3
TAI Template
NAI
3
B
A
NAI
1
H+1
NAI
2
H+2
•
Identify locations and events where the enemy may employ high value targets (HVTs).
•
These locations become TAIs.
•
TAIs are areas where the friendly commander can influence the action by fire and/or maneuver.
50
Friendly Course of Action (COA)
Development
MAP
MCOO
Enemy Most Probable COA
TAI Template
NAI
1
NAI
3
B
A
H+1
NAI
2
Friendly COA
H+2
• The staff develops friendly COAs based on the commander’s
guidance and the facts and assumptions identified during IPB
and Mission Analysis.
51
Decision Point and Critical Event
MAP
Development
MCOO
Enemy Most Probable COA
Friendly COA
Decision Support Template
NAI
3
B
A
NAI
1
H+1
NAI
2
H+2
•
•
•
•
•
Decision points are identified when the staff wargames the enemy and friendly
COAs.
During the wargame the staff identifies all the critical events, locations, times
and decisions that both friendly and enemy commanders must make.
Using the action/reaction/counteraction drill, information is added to the
TAI/event template.
At the completion of the wargaming process the TAI/event template becomes
the decision support template.
The Decision Support Template is a graphic form of the synchronization matrix
52
What collection assets
does your unit have?
53
Step 4 Determine
Threat COAs
 Success results in:
– The commander and staff will avoid being
surprised with an unanticipated threat action.
– You will be able to quickly narrow the set of
possible threat COAs to the one he has chosen.
 Consequences of failure:
– You will fail to identify which of the possible COAs
the threat has chosen, leading to surprise of the
friendly command.
54
QUESTIONS?
Define the
Battlefield
Environment
1
4
Determine
Threat COAs
Describe the
Battlefield’s
Effects
2
3
Evaluate the
threat
55