Michael E Picard
@mperonius.bsky.social
Diviner of small arms and light weapons
15/The two incidents are probably a coincidence, and not a trend. But they show that US personnel and assets are extremely dependent on contractors. With everything that’s going on in the neighborhood, not to mention the fact that US lives are at stake, this deserves transparency.
February 18, 2025 at 2:40 AM
15/The two incidents are probably a coincidence, and not a trend. But they show that US personnel and assets are extremely dependent on contractors. With everything that’s going on in the neighborhood, not to mention the fact that US lives are at stake, this deserves transparency.
14/It seems more than likely to me that this includes contractors in some way.
February 18, 2025 at 2:40 AM
14/It seems more than likely to me that this includes contractors in some way.
13/This past weekend, a US Navy helicopter pulled off an emergency landing in Quezon Province after engine trouble almost caused it to crash. The Navy dispatched another aircraft to rescue the personnel and ferry mechanics to inspect the damaged helicopter.
Source: www.philstar.com/nation/2025/...
Source: www.philstar.com/nation/2025/...
4 US Navy personnel safe after Polilio emergency landing
Four US Navy personnel, including the pilot and co-pilot, cheated death after making an emergency landing on Polilio Island in Quezon province on Saturday.
www.philstar.com
February 18, 2025 at 2:40 AM
13/This past weekend, a US Navy helicopter pulled off an emergency landing in Quezon Province after engine trouble almost caused it to crash. The Navy dispatched another aircraft to rescue the personnel and ferry mechanics to inspect the damaged helicopter.
Source: www.philstar.com/nation/2025/...
Source: www.philstar.com/nation/2025/...
12/This incident also shows how much US forces are reliant on contracted support. With Musk ripping out the USG's guts, how would US forces be impacted by a sudden reduction of contracted support, or even a reduction of government capacity to manage contracted support?
www.npr.org/2025/02/14/n...
www.npr.org/2025/02/14/n...
Elon Musk's team is expected to target the Pentagon soon, pledging cost cuts
The DOGE team is aiming to cut 8% from next year's defense budget, officials tell NPR.
www.npr.org
February 18, 2025 at 2:40 AM
12/This incident also shows how much US forces are reliant on contracted support. With Musk ripping out the USG's guts, how would US forces be impacted by a sudden reduction of contracted support, or even a reduction of government capacity to manage contracted support?
www.npr.org/2025/02/14/n...
www.npr.org/2025/02/14/n...
11/Because the ISR flight was operated by a contractor, is it easier to sweep this incident under the rug in terms of public investigation and accountability? One of the “perks” of contractors is that they help keep deployed troop numbers low and reduce the visibility of military operations.
February 18, 2025 at 2:40 AM
11/Because the ISR flight was operated by a contractor, is it easier to sweep this incident under the rug in terms of public investigation and accountability? One of the “perks” of contractors is that they help keep deployed troop numbers low and reduce the visibility of military operations.
10/I’m not suggesting any of this is unusual or suspicious. This is all public information. The military’s reliance on contractors and US operations in the Philippines are nothing new. But it does bring up two points.
February 18, 2025 at 2:40 AM
10/I’m not suggesting any of this is unusual or suspicious. This is all public information. The military’s reliance on contractors and US operations in the Philippines are nothing new. But it does bring up two points.
9/CH may be under a $50mil contract (PIID HTC71123FC027) for airlift support services in the Philippines, funded by USSOCOM Pacific.
Source: www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_A...
Source: www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_A...
USAspending.gov
www.usaspending.gov
February 18, 2025 at 2:40 AM
9/CH may be under a $50mil contract (PIID HTC71123FC027) for airlift support services in the Philippines, funded by USSOCOM Pacific.
Source: www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_A...
Source: www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_A...
8/I wanted to see if the companies’ contracts are publicly visible on USASpending. To the best of my ability, I couldn’t find anything for Metrea (in fact, their aviation services branch hasn’t received any public awards since 2021).
Source: www.usaspending.gov/recipient/b0...
Source: www.usaspending.gov/recipient/b0...
February 18, 2025 at 2:40 AM
8/I wanted to see if the companies’ contracts are publicly visible on USASpending. To the best of my ability, I couldn’t find anything for Metrea (in fact, their aviation services branch hasn’t received any public awards since 2021).
Source: www.usaspending.gov/recipient/b0...
Source: www.usaspending.gov/recipient/b0...
7/Images showed several heavy-duty-looking personnel in civilian clothes at the site. I assume CH just leased the helicopter – it’s unclear if the personnel are also contractors or are special forces.
Source: www.facebook.com/dxmy729/post...
Source: www.facebook.com/dxmy729/post...
February 18, 2025 at 2:40 AM
7/Images showed several heavy-duty-looking personnel in civilian clothes at the site. I assume CH just leased the helicopter – it’s unclear if the personnel are also contractors or are special forces.
Source: www.facebook.com/dxmy729/post...
Source: www.facebook.com/dxmy729/post...
6/Images also showed the response team that secured the site – which appeared to entail a distinctly non-military CH-47 helicopter (registration N168CH) operated by Columbia Helicopters, another specialized military aviation contractor.
Source: www.airliners.net/photo/Columb...
Source: www.airliners.net/photo/Columb...
Aviation Photo #7164797: Boeing Vertol Hkp4A (107-II-4) - Columbia Helicopters
Photo taken at Santa Maria - Public / Captain G Allan Hancock Field (SMX / KSMX) in California, USA in March, 2023.
www.airliners.net
February 18, 2025 at 2:40 AM
6/Images also showed the response team that secured the site – which appeared to entail a distinctly non-military CH-47 helicopter (registration N168CH) operated by Columbia Helicopters, another specialized military aviation contractor.
Source: www.airliners.net/photo/Columb...
Source: www.airliners.net/photo/Columb...
5/A quick google search shows it was produced by Raytheon and registered to Metrea, a private company that provides a range of military aviation services, including ISR. Metrea confirmed the crash in statement.
Source: www.metrea.aero/news/press-r...
Source: www.metrea.aero/news/press-r...
Philippines Accident Press Release, Thursday 6th February 2025 | Metrea
Metrea is sad to announce an accident involving one of our aircraft in the Philippines.
www.metrea.aero
February 18, 2025 at 2:40 AM
5/A quick google search shows it was produced by Raytheon and registered to Metrea, a private company that provides a range of military aviation services, including ISR. Metrea confirmed the crash in statement.
Source: www.metrea.aero/news/press-r...
Source: www.metrea.aero/news/press-r...
4/Images of the crash posted by local news outlets on social media showed the plane’s registration number – N349CA.
Source [WARNING! GRAPHIC!]: www.facebook.com/dxmy729/post...
Source [WARNING! GRAPHIC!]: www.facebook.com/dxmy729/post...
February 18, 2025 at 2:40 AM
4/Images of the crash posted by local news outlets on social media showed the plane’s registration number – N349CA.
Source [WARNING! GRAPHIC!]: www.facebook.com/dxmy729/post...
Source [WARNING! GRAPHIC!]: www.facebook.com/dxmy729/post...
3/This is a tragedy, and my thoughts and respect go out to those who lost their lives and their loved ones.
February 18, 2025 at 2:40 AM
3/This is a tragedy, and my thoughts and respect go out to those who lost their lives and their loved ones.
2/On Feb 6, a small aircraft crashed in Maguindanao del Sur in the Philippines' restive Bangsamoro region. One US marine and three US contractors died. They were conducting a routine surveillance flight under INDOPACOM’s command, in support of PH forces.
Source: www.wwbl.com/2025/02/09/m...
Source: www.wwbl.com/2025/02/09/m...
Marine identified as victim of surveillance flight that crashed in Philippines
Military officials identified a U.S. Marine who died in a plane crash in the Philippines last week as Sgt. Jacob M. Durham, a California native.
www.wwbl.com
February 18, 2025 at 2:40 AM
2/On Feb 6, a small aircraft crashed in Maguindanao del Sur in the Philippines' restive Bangsamoro region. One US marine and three US contractors died. They were conducting a routine surveillance flight under INDOPACOM’s command, in support of PH forces.
Source: www.wwbl.com/2025/02/09/m...
Source: www.wwbl.com/2025/02/09/m...
@WarNoir on Twitter identified the remaining rifles as Sudanese MIC Terab rifles. x.com/war_noir/sta...
x.com
x.com
January 29, 2025 at 6:19 PM
@WarNoir on Twitter identified the remaining rifles as Sudanese MIC Terab rifles. x.com/war_noir/sta...
Times of Israel recently covered the evolving tactics used by smuggles on the border with Egypt.
www.timesofisrael.com/on-egypt-bor...
www.timesofisrael.com/on-egypt-bor...
On Egypt border, senior IDF officer warns quietest ‘front’ has potential to erupt
Col. Shemer Raviv details challenges on 200-kilometer border for which he is responsible, including the increasing threat of drones
www.timesofisrael.com
January 29, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Times of Israel recently covered the evolving tactics used by smuggles on the border with Egypt.
www.timesofisrael.com/on-egypt-bor...
www.timesofisrael.com/on-egypt-bor...
source: t.me/idf_telegram...
צה״ל - הערוץ הרשמי
דובר צה"ל:
כוחות צה"ל סיכלו הברחת אמצעי לחימה במרחב גבול מצרים
כוחות צה״ל זיהו במהלך הלילה, רחפן שחצה משטח מצרים לשטח מדינת ישראל במרחב חטיבת פארן.
הרחפן הופל על-ידי הכוח שהגיע לנקודה ואותרו על הרח...
t.me
January 29, 2025 at 1:46 PM
source: t.me/idf_telegram...
If you like what I do and feel supportive, please consider making a contribution to HALO. I won't receive any of it (and I don't intend to make any money from this). It will help brave people remove explosive ordnance from the earth and help civilians touched by war rebuild their lives. Thank you.
January 23, 2025 at 2:55 PM
If you like what I do and feel supportive, please consider making a contribution to HALO. I won't receive any of it (and I don't intend to make any money from this). It will help brave people remove explosive ordnance from the earth and help civilians touched by war rebuild their lives. Thank you.
5. I welcome informative discussion about the subject matter. I will not engage in frivolous, politicized debates, and I will not respond to bad faith or disrespectful commentary. If that's what you're looking for, go back to Xitter.
January 23, 2025 at 2:55 PM
5. I welcome informative discussion about the subject matter. I will not engage in frivolous, politicized debates, and I will not respond to bad faith or disrespectful commentary. If that's what you're looking for, go back to Xitter.
4. I will not repost media from terrorist organizations, other than screenshots to demonstrate the point of the analysis.
January 23, 2025 at 2:55 PM
4. I will not repost media from terrorist organizations, other than screenshots to demonstrate the point of the analysis.
3. I provide weapon IDs and technical insights where I can, but I am not an expert in this. I am not fluent in ATGM, AK, AR, MANPADS, or anything else really, but I am conversational. Corrections are always appreciated.
January 23, 2025 at 2:55 PM
3. I provide weapon IDs and technical insights where I can, but I am not an expert in this. I am not fluent in ATGM, AK, AR, MANPADS, or anything else really, but I am conversational. Corrections are always appreciated.
2. I will keep analysis to a minimum on most posts. I will describe what's written and what's shown (which often differ).
That said, I will occasionally share larger posts with heavier analysis on topics where I've done the research.
That said, I will occasionally share larger posts with heavier analysis on topics where I've done the research.
January 23, 2025 at 2:55 PM
2. I will keep analysis to a minimum on most posts. I will describe what's written and what's shown (which often differ).
That said, I will occasionally share larger posts with heavier analysis on topics where I've done the research.
That said, I will occasionally share larger posts with heavier analysis on topics where I've done the research.