First publication: Defense Ministry accelerates establishment of 6 new brigade training bases

A senior official in the Ministry of Defense's Engineering and Construction Division revealed a plan to establish six new brigade training bases (BATs) in the IDF. The project includes three bases for armored brigades (7, 188, 401) and three for the Kfir, Nahal, and Givati brigades, aiming to improve soldier training for future challenges.

A senior official in the Ministry of Defense's Engineering and Construction Division revealed today (Sunday) a construction surge including six new brigade training bases (BATs) for the IDF across the country. The project includes three bases for three armored brigades: Brigade 7, Brigade 188, and Brigade 401, including for the advanced training and specialization phase. The three additional bases are designated for the Kfir Brigade, the Nahal Brigade, and the Givati Brigade. The Ministry of Defense views this as an operational project due to the direct implications for the training and exercises of all ground forces facing future challenges and extreme scenarios. The senior official explained that the training environment will change completely, from improved living conditions including beds, hot water, classrooms with new technology and simulators, to rapid tank access to training areas. The Brigade 7 base in the north, spanning 20,000 square meters, will receive its first cohort of recruits in August 2028. The Brigade 188 base in the Jordan Valley will be handed over in August 2027. The Kfir Brigade base in the Jordan Valley will be handed over in 2028. The Nahal Brigade base near Tel Arad is in the planning stage with construction to begin in the coming months. The establishment of the Givati base, which has been delayed for over a decade and a half, is expected to be completed around 2031-2032. The official emphasized that thought was invested in the location of the bases and their security components as lessons from October 7, including infrastructure fortification, types of walls and fences, protected spaces, perimeter fencing, and conditions for functional continuity.