IPB
INTELLIGENCE PREPARATION
of the
BATTLEFIELD
FM 34-130
IPB Definition
IPB is the process which integrates enemy doctrine
with weather and terrain to provide a basis for
determining and evaluating enemy capabilities,
vulnerabilities, and probable COA.
IPB is a systematic and continuous process of analyzing
the threat and environment in a specific geographic
area.
It also serves as a planning
basis for the formulation of the
units concept of operations.
IPB Steps
Define the Battlefield Environment
Describe the Battlefield Effect
Evaluate the Threat
Determine Threat Course of Action
Define the Battlefield
Environment
Identify environmental factors that may influence available
COAs or the commander’s decisions.
There are 6 elements that must be considered . Focus on the
relationship between these elements and AI, AO, and Battle Space
Elements of Battlefield
Environment
1. Characteristics affecting friendly and enemy COAs/decisions
2. Limits of AO and Battle Space
Define the Battlefield
3. Limits of AI
4. Details required versus time available
5. Data base available and intelligence gaps
6. Collect intel and material to conduct IPB
Area of Operations (AO)
The AO is the geographical area where the
commander has been assigned the responsibility to
conduct operations.
Based on METT-T
Air AO is identical, except for height which is based on
acft ceiling height and effective altitude of AD weapons.
Battle Space
Battle Space is determined by the maximum
capabilities of a unit to acquire targets and
physically dominate the threat.
The command’s battle space includes all of the
AO as well as areas outside the AO.
The evaluation of this area may be as detailed as the
AO if required by the commander, or it receives
the same as AI.
Also depends on the commands ability to acquire
and engage targets using its own assets or those of
other commands on its behalf.
Area of Interest (AI)
The AI is the geographical
area monitored by the commander
and from which information (intel)
is required for planning and
conducting unit operations.
Generally larger than its
AO and battlespace.
Limits of AI include characteristics
of the battlefield environment
exerting an influence on available
COAs or command decisions
Describe the Battlefield
Effects
Define the Battlefield Environment
Describe the Battlefield Effect
During this step, one analyzes the battlefield environment
and describes its effects on threat and friendly COAs.
•terrain
•weather
•light data
Military Aspects of Terrain
OCOKA
1. Observation and fields of fire
2. Cover and concealment
3. Obstacles
4. Key Terrain
5. Avenues of Approach
Observation and Fields of Fire
• Observation involves the influence of terrain on
reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition
capabilities. Fields of fire involve the effects of terrain on
weapons effectiveness.
Cover and Concealment
• Concealment is protection from air and ground
observation. Cover is protection from the effects of fire.
(IPB determines the concealment and cover offered to both
friendly and enemy forces from both ground and air
perspectives.
Obstacles
• Obstacles are natural and man made terrain features that
stop, impede, or divert military movement. Terrain
analysis attempts to identify where obstacles to ground and
air movement are and what effects removing, overcoming,
or bypassing these obstacles will have on overall
operations.
Key Terrain
• Key terrain is any feature or area, of which the seizure, or
control of, offers a marked tactical advantage. eg bridges,
fording sites, choke points, road junctions. Mission
accomplishment normally depends on the seizure or
control of decisive terrain.
Air and Ground Avenues of
Approach
• These are routes by which a force may reach key terrain or
an objective. Air and ground mobility corridors are subsets
of air and ground avenues of approach. Mobility corridors
are areas within the avenues of approach which permit
movement and maneuver.
Terrain Analysis
• Unrestricted Terrain
• Restricted Terrain
• Severely Restricted Terrain
Unrestricted Terrain
Terrain free of any restrictions on movement.
Unmarked
There is no need to enhance mobility.
Restricted Terrain
•Terrain hinders movement to some degree.
•Little effort required to improve mobility.
•Unit using the terrain is restricted doctrinally.
•Depicted on the overlay by diagonal green lines.
OBJ.
Severely Restricted Terrain
•Terrain severely hinders or slows movement of formations
unless some effort is made to improve mobility.
•Mobility must be improved by using assets not organic to
the formation or by deviating from doctrinal tactics.
•Depicted on the overlay by cross-hatched, diagonal
OBJ
Modified Combined
Obstacles Overlay (MCOO)
Product used to disseminate the results of the AO terrain
analysis. This is the final product, but must continually be
updated.
Aids the staff in completing their estimate.
•cross-country mobility classifications
•obstacle networks
•defendable terrain
•engagement areas
•key terrain
Built-up Areas (BUA)
•A BUA is larger than 1 square Km and is considered an obstacle.
•They are outlined and cross-hatched in black on the overlay.
•One should remember that cities are always growing and maps
may be outdated. Plan for the worst case.
Rivers and water obstacles
Swamps, lakes, ponds, and canals are outlined in blue
on the overlay using wide solid lines.
Key Terrain
Key terrain is usually designated by:
K
Obvious color other than
yellow or red (purple).
Obstacles
Major cultural obstacles such as:
•roads
•rail-roads
•embankments
•power lines
•overpasses
are depicted on the MCOO in black.
Avenues of Approach
•Enemy avenues of approach are indicated in red.
•Friendly axes of approach are indicated in blue.
•Each avenue of approach indicates the size of the enemy
force it will support.
- they are based on doctrinal frontages and shown
from at least the FLOT to the final objective, and
prioritized to indicate the most likely avenue.
- As they show the general area through which a force can move,
the boundaries of avenues of approach and axes of advance may
cross Severely Restricted Terrain.
Mobility Corridors
•Mobility corridors are shown in red (enemy) or blue
(friendly) on the MCOO.
•They indicate areas where a force will be forced to
narrow its frontage due to terrain.
•They are normally labeled with the size of the force
they will doctrinally support.
•The boundaries do not cross Severely Restricted Terrain.
Objectives
Friendly and enemy objectives are shown in either
blue or red on the MCOO.
They may be shown as area objectives or limits
of advance.
OBJ
SNAKE
Weather Analysis
The commander integrates weather and terrain analysis
to determine their effect on tactical operations.
Weather and terrain are inseparable and can have a
significant impact (on both enemy and friendly operations).
They are integrated by the commander to determine their
effect on tactical operations and potential maneuver areas.
Military Aspects of Weather
Analysis
•Visibility (SF insertion)
•Wind speed and direction (NBC)
•Precipitation (traffic)
•Cloud cover (acft operations - CAS)
•Temperature and humidity (heat injuries)
Note: normally conducted at corps level and above by
weather teams
Evaluate the Threat
Define the Battlefield Environment
Describe the Battlefield Effect
Evaluate the Threat
When evaluating the threat:
•doctrinal templates are produced
•Threat tactics and options are described
•High Value Targets and threat capabilities
are identified
Doctrinal Template
The doctrinal template illustrates the threat’s
normal tactics and deployment when not constrained
by the effects of the battlefield environment.
EXAMPLE OF A
DOCTRINAL TEMPLATE
MRB(+)
(-)
MRB
MRB(+)
RAG
DAG
MRB
MRB(+)
20-30 KMs
DIV CP
RAG
MRB
MRB(+)
(-)
(-)
15-20 KMs
High Value Target (HVT)
HVTs are assets that the threat commander requires for the
successful completion of the mission.
They are depicted on the templates as HVTs.
Categories of HVT
There are 13 categories of HVTs:
1. C3
2. FS
3. Maneuver
4. ADA
5. Engineer
6. RISTA
7. NBC
8. REC or EW
9. Bulk Fuels
10. Ammunition Points
11. Maintenance Units
12. Lift
13. LOC
Identify Threat Capabilities
•They take the form of statements.
•They are the broad COAs and supporting operations taken
by the threat to influence the ability of friendly units to
accomplish their mission.
Example: The enemy is capable of providing a strong
defense within 1 hour; the enemy can attack with success;
the enemy can be reinforced.
Determine Threat COA
Define the Battlefield Environment
Describe the Battlefield Effect
Evaluate the Threat
Determine Threat Course of Action
Identify and develop likely COAs
that will influence the friendly mission
Identify Threat COAs
•COAs that threat doctrine indicates appropriate to the
current situation
•COAs which could significantly influence your
command’s mission
•COAs indicated by recent activities and events
Criteria for COAs
1. Suitability
2. Feasibility
3. Acceptability
4. Uniqueness
5. Consistency with doctrine
Prioritize Each COA
1. Identify COA strengths and weaknesses, centers of
gravity, and decisive points.
2. Evaluate using the 5 criteria.
3. Compare them with each other.
4. Keep surprise in mind when evaluating COAs.
5. Analyze threat activity for indications that a COA has
already been adopted.
COA: Three Parts
Situational Template
Description of
the COA
List of HVTs
Situational Templates
Situational Template
Description of
the COA
List of HVTs
The situational template
graphically illustrates how
the enemy might deviate
from doctrinal dispositions
to account for battlefield
environment effects.
Time Phase Lines
Time Phase Lines (TPLs) are developed to evaluate time and
space factors using threat movement.
Describe the COA
The COA description is
used to support staff
wargaming and to develop
the event template.
Situational Template
Description of
It can range from a narrative the COA
description to a detailed
synchronization matrix.
List of HVTs
Named Area of Interest (NAI)
and indicator
A point, route, or area where you expect key events to
occur.
An indicator is an activity which reveals the enemy’s
selected COA.
NAI GRAPHICS
NAI 6
AREA NAI
3
POINT NAI
4
ROUTE OF AIR APPROACH NAI
Event Template
Depicts where and when to collect the information which
will indicate which COA the threat has adopted.
EXAMPLE OF EVENT
TEMPLATE
SIT TEMP 1
SIT TEMP 2
1&2
1
2
NAI 1
NAI 2
1&2
NAI 4
NAI 3
CONSOLIDATED
TEMPLATES
EVENT
TEMPLATE
Event Matrix
Supports the event template by providing details on the
type and time of activity in each NAI.
EXAMPLE OF EVENT
MATRIX
NAI NO.
NO EARLIER NO LATER
THAN
THAN
INDICATOR
NAI 1
H-7
H-2
Engineer preparation of artillery positions
NAI 1
H-2
H-30 MIN
Artillery occupies firing positions
NAI 1
H-1
H-15 MIN
Artillery commences preparatory fires
NAI 2
H-2
H-1.5
Combat recon patrol conducts route recon
NAI 2
H-1.5
H-30 MIN
Rifle company (+) in march formation
Decision Support Template
(DST)
Relates the detail of the event template to decision
points that are significant to the commander.
Target Area of Interest (TAI)
Points are areas along an avenue of approach or mobility
corridor where interdiction of an enemy force by fire
maneuver, or jamming will deny the enemy this particular
COA.
TRP 6969
TAI Graphics
3
3
Area TAI
Point TAI
Decision Point (DP)
DPs identify events, areas, and points on the battlefield
where tactical decisions are required, and when these
decisions must be made.
6
ADA Considerations in AO
Air defense operations
focuses on three
dimensional.
Encompasses smaller areas
(No Fire Areas).
ADA Considerations of AI
The ADA AI includes airspace adjacent to the ADA
AO and extends into enemy airspace.
Often consists of scattered points rather than a
contiguous area.
ADA AI Factors
•Location of TBM
•Location of FARPs
•Location of threat airfields
•Location of aids to navigation
•Range, altitude, and capabilities of threat aircraft
•Range, capabilities, and flight profiles of TBM
ADA Battlefield Effect
Considerations
• Probable target installation or areas
• Likely Air Avenues of Approach (AAA)
• Likely DZs or LZs
• Likely standoff attack orbits
• LOS from proposed ADA weapon locations
Air Avenue of Approach
- Aerial sensors, attack aircraft and airmobile forces.
- Direct as possible to minimize risk and maximize payload.
- Terrain influences routes.
Air Threat COA to Consider
•Locations of FARPs
•Likely timing of air strikes /assault operations
•Targets and objectives
•Likely corridors and AAAs
•Strike package composition
•Flight profiles and spacing
•Likely threat SEAD operations
•Threat COAs that might require movement of friendly ADA assets
ADA Threat
• Unmanned Aerodynamic Vehicle (UAV)
• Cruise missile and TBM
• Fixed Wing Aircraft
• Rotary Wing Aircraft
•Airborne and air assault forces
Other Threat Factors
•Flight Operation Tactics
•Ordnance types and availability
•Ordnance delivery techniques (standoff ranges)
•Release speeds and altitudes
•Guidance systems
•Technical capabilities of aircraft
IPB PROCESS
ANALYSIS
THREAT
EVALUATION
BATTLEFIELD
AREA
EVALUATION
THREAT
INTEGRATION
WEATHER
ANALYSIS
TERRAIN
ANALYSIS
EVALUATION
4BL 1