Intel Academy · Contents · Chapter 3 · §3.1 · Nederlandse versie

§3.1 What is IPB?

IPB is a continuous analytical process to understand the battlespace, evaluate the threat and predict enemy courses of action.

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Intelligence Preparation of the Battlespace (IPB) is a structured analytical methodology used to reduce uncertainty and support operational planning. IPB helps commanders answer four fundamental questions:

  1. Where will the operation take place?
  2. How does the environment affect the operation?
  3. What can the enemy do?
  4. What is the enemy most likely to do?
Key point

The Intelligence Cycle describes how intelligence is produced; IPB describes how intelligence is analyzed to support planning. IPB systematically examines the operational environment, terrain, weather, infrastructure, the enemy and (where relevant) the civil environment — and the interaction between all these factors.

The purpose is explicitly not to describe the current situation, but to anticipate future enemy action: predictive intelligence.

After this chapter you can explain the purpose of IPB, describe the four steps, name the products per step, select appropriate analytical methods, and articulate the relationship between IPB, IPOE and MDMP.