Long-Range Precision Fires and the Fight for the First Island Chain

About this episode

The episode discusses the evolution of long-range precision fires and the Army's strategic shift in the Indo-Pacific region.

In this episode of The Spear, host Dr. Charlie Faint speaks with Lieutenant Colonel Ben Blane about the rapid evolution of long-range precision fires and the Army’s shift toward multidomain operations in preparation for conflict with near-peer adversaries, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. Blane traces his career from traditional artillery roles to commanding the Army’s first long-range precision fires battalion, highlighting how emerging capabilities, such as hypersonic weapons, networked missile systems, drones, cyber, and space integration, are transforming artillery into a central component of joint, distributed warfare. He emphasizes the importance of forward positioning, interoperability with allies, and building resilient, networked kill webs that enable faster, more precise effects across domains. Drawing on real-world experimentation in places like the Philippines, he underscores both the successes and challenges of integrating new technologies under constant adversary observation, while stressing that future warfare will depend less on mass and more on speed, adaptability, and intelligent, interconnected munitions.

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Charlie Faint

Guest: Lieutenant Colonel Ben Blane

Topics covered

• long-range precision fires
• multidomain operations
• Indo-Pacific conflict
• artillery evolution
• emerging military technologies
• joint warfare
• networked systems

Keywords

• long-range precision fires
• hypersonic weapons
• networked missile systems
• drones
• cyber integration
• space integration
• kill webs
• adaptability
• joint warfare

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Army

Places: Indo-Pacific, Philippines

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