List of equipment of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces

This is a list of equipment of the Ecuadorian Army. Historically, the Ecuadorian Army depended on a wide variety of foreign suppliers like India, the United States and Germany for virtually all of its equipment needs. The rotary wing of the Ecuadorian Army depends on HAL Dhruv helicopters from India. Only in the 1980s did it begin to develop a modest domestic arms industry as the Directorate of Army Industries manufactured rifle ammunition, uniforms, boots, and other consumable items. The Army's present day equipment is mostly of Western origin.

Army

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Armoured fighting vehicles

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Model Image Origin Quantity Details
Light tanks
AMX-13     France ~108[1][dubiousdiscuss] In 1988, Ecuador upgraded its fleet of 108 AMX-13 light tanks armed with 105 mm guns. SOPELEM supplied the basic day version of its SOPTAC 18 fire-control system with laser rangefinder and its control unit. Fives-Cail Babcock provided kits to modify the 105 mm gun and its ammunition system to allow APFSDS rounds to be fired. Work on upgrading the AMX-13s started in Ecuador late in 1988 and was completed in 1990.
Reconnaissance vehicle
EE-3 Jararaca     Brazil ~10 [2]
EE-9 Cascavel   ~32 [2]
Armoured personnel carriers
AMX-VCI     France ~82 [2]
M113     United States ~20 [2]
EE-11 Urutu     Brazil ~17 [2]
UR-416     West Germany ~32 [2]
Cobra II   Turkey ~20 [3]

Artillery

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Model Image Origin Caliber Quantity Details
Mortar
M29     United States 81mm ~357 [2]
Towed
Model 56 pack     Italy 105mm ~24 [2]
M101     United States ~36 [2]
M2A2   ~24 [2]
M114   155mm ~12 [2]
M198   ~10 [2]
Self-propelled
Mk F3     France 155mm ~5 [2]
Multiple rocket launchers
BM-21 Grad     Soviet Union 122mm ~18 [2]
RM-70   Czechoslovakia ~6 [3]

Air defence

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Model Image Origin Caliber Quantity Details
Man-portable air-defense systems
9K32 Strela-2     Soviet Union 72mm n/a [2]
9K38 Igla   n/a [2]
Blowpipe     United Kingdom 76mm n/a [2]
Towed anti-aircraft guns
ZPU-1     Soviet Union 14.5mm ~128 [2]
ZPU-2   [2]
M-1935    Switzerland 20mm ~28 [2]
M167 Vulcan     United States ~10 [2]
L/70     Sweden 40 × 365mm ~30 [2]
Self-propelled
M163 Vulcan     United States 20mm ~44 [2]

Vehicles and small arms

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Model Image Origin Type Versions In service Notes
Armoured personnel carrier/Infantry mobility vehicles
BLR     Spain Armoured personnel carrier (wheeled) 35 Status unknown. 4x4[4]
Otokar Ural     Turkey Tactical wheeled armoured vehicle 15[5]
Light armored vehicles
Agrale Marruá     Brazil Transport and recognition AM10
AM20
130 First lot bought by Ecuador in February 2009 as a reconnaissance variant.[6]
Second lot bought in August 2009 as transport variant.[7][8]
AIL Storm     Israel Utility M-240 Storm Mark I 280 4x4[9]
Tiuna     Venezuela Utility UR-53AR50 4 Donated by Venezuela in April 2009.[10]
Humvee     United States Transport
Anti-tank
Anti-aircraft
820[11] 118 Humvees were donated by US NAS in 2003. The Israeli MAPATS anti-tank version was created in 2009. Other anti-tank variants include the Chinese HJ-8 system. In 2013, 107 new units were acquired. Less reliable sources suggest that 500 Humvees are currently in use within the Armed Forces.
Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle     United States Commercial utility cargo vehicle CUCV II 200 The CUCV II was procured by the Ecuadorian military in limited quantities.[12]
Truck
M939 Truck   United States 6×6 truck Transport 76 Donated by the US NAS program in 2003.[13]
M35   United States truck Transport ?
Hino   Japan truck Transport 15 Donated by the US NAS program in 2010.[14]
Unimog   West Germany
  Germany
4×4 truck Anti-aircraft warfare ? Equipped with Anti-tank or Anti-aircraft weapon-systems.
Engesa EE-25   Brazil 6×6 truck Transport 35 In the process of recovery.[15]
Sinotruk HOWO   China 6×6 truck Transport 293 Multipurpose Trucks.[16]
Sinotruk HOWO   China 4x4 truck Transport 226 Multipurpose Trucks.[16]
Sinotruk HOWO 336   China 6×4 truck Water tank 28 [16]
Sinotruk HOWO 336   China 6×4 truck Fuel tank 20 [16]
Sinotruk HOWO A7   China 6×4 heavy tractor Tank transporter 27 Head Truck 30T.[16]
Sinotruk HOWO A7   China 6×4 tractor Transport 35 Mule-type truck 22T.[16]
Sinotruk HOWO 371   China 6×4 tractor Dump truck 11 12m Cubic.[16]
Sinotruk HOWO   China 4x4 truck Transport 99 Multipurpose Trucks 3.5T[16]
Sinotruk HOWO   China 4x4 truck Transport 20 Van truck 5T.[16]
Anti-material warfare
Spike     Israel Shoulder-launched missile 170mm ATGM 244 Some units are mounted on vehicles. Deliveries started in October 2009.[17]
MAPATS     Israel Shoulder-launched missile 155mm ATGM ? Some units are mounted on vehicles.
Euromissile HOT     France
  West Germany /
  Germany
Missile launchers 150mm ATGM ? Mounted on Aérospatiale Gazelle helicopters.
MILAN     France
  West Germany /
  Germany
Shoulder-launched missile 125mm ATGM ? Some units are mounted on vehicles.
C90-CR (M3)     Spain Shoulder-launched missile 90mm RPG ? [18]
M72 LAW     United States Shoulder-launched missile 66mm RPG
(M-72A-3 LAW)
?
RPG-7     Soviet Union Shoulder-launched missile 40mm RPG ? Used by the Marine Corps.
Anti-aircraft warfare
ZU-23-2     Soviet Union Towed
Mounted
2 × 23 mm Anti-Aircraft Twin Autocannon
Type 85
34 AA System.
Some units are mounted on vehicles.[19]
Mobile surface-to-air missile system
9K33 Osa     Soviet Union Mobile 6x6 amphibious self-propelled 200 mm SAM system 10[20]
Surface-to-air missile
MBDA Mistral     France Man-portable air-defense system 90 mm Surface-to-air missile ? Some are mounted on vehicles. Also used by Marine Corps.[citation needed]
HN-5     China Man-portable air-defense system 72 mm Surface-to-air missile
HN-5A
? [19]
Small arms[21]
Browning Hi-Power     Belgium 9mm Pistol ? [22]
M1911     United States .45 Pistol ? [21]
Glock-17     Austria 9mm Pistol ?
Type 56     China 7.62mm Assault rifle 10,000 They will be used for conscript training. Donated by China.[23]
FN FAL     Belgium 7.62mm Battle rifle 50,000 Former standard rifle of the Army, it was replaced by the HK 33 since 1994, the FN FAL is still used by some units such as Jungle Infantry where the 7.62mm round has its advantages.[24]
SIG SG 540      Switzerland 5.56mm Battle rifle ?
M16A2     United States 5.56mm Assault rifle ? Colt M16A1, M16A2 & CAR-15A1 (M16A1 carbine delivered.
M4 carbine     United States 5.56mm Carbine ? M4s sold as a 2008 Foreign Military Sales package.[25]
Steyr AUG     Austria 5.56mm Bullpup assault rifle ? Used also by Ecuadorian UN operatives and jungle warfare units. Delivered between 1987 and 1989.
Daewoo K2     South Korea 5.56mm Assault rifle ?
HK 33     West Germany 5.56mm Assault rifle 33,000+ Used also by Ecuadorian Naval Infantry, Ecuadorian UN operatives, paramilitary units, and the 9th Special Forces Brigade. 30,000 units (produced in England) were delivered in 1994. A further 3,000 units were acquired through Chile. An unknown quantity was purchased from Turkey (HK-33A-2 and HK-33A-3).[24]
HK MP5A5     West Germany
  West Germany
9mm Submachine gun ? Used (also) by: Ecuadorian Naval Infantry, Air Force Infantry detachments and the Counter-terror unit GEO. Night-vision and SD versions available.
Uzi     Israel 9mm Submachine gun 5.000 Used (also) by: Air Force Infantry
PSG-1     West Germany 7.62mm Sniper rifle ?
M24 SWS     United States 7.62mm Sniper rifle ?
FN MAG     Belgium 7.62mm General-purpose machine gun ?
Heckler & Koch HK21     West Germany 5.56mm General-purpose machine gun ? [26][27]
FN Minimi     Belgium 5.56m Squad automatic weapon ?
Daewoo K3     South Korea 5.56m Light machine gun ?
Milkor MGL   South Africa
  South Africa
40mm Infantry support weapon ? [citation needed]
AGS-17     Soviet Union 30mm Infantry support weapon ?
Colt M203     United States 40mm GL
HK-79A-1     West Germany 40mm GL
M1919     United States .30-6 Infantry support ?
M2HB     United States .50 BMG Anti-material
Infantry support
?

Aircraft

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Aircraft Image Origin Type Versions In service[28] Notes
Trainer aircraft
T-41 Mescalero     United States Primary pilot trainer T-41D 2
Cessna 182     United States Primary pilot trainer 4 [29]
Utility aircraft
Pilatus PC-6      Swiss
  United States
Light transport Turbo Porter 5 STOL aircraft, the Porter series was produced under license in the States.
Maule M-7     United States Liaison aircraft MT-7-235 Super Rocket 3
Aerial reconnaissance
Cessna Citation II     United States Aerial survey 550 1
Transport
Beechcraft Super King Air     United States Light transport/Utility 3
IAI Arava     Israel Light transport 201 2 STOL aircraft.
PZL M28 Skytruck     Poland Light transport 1 STOL aircraft. Delivered in August 2018 to replace crashed IAI Arava.[30]
CASA C-212 Aviocar     Spain
  Indonesia
Tactical transport 400 2 STOL aircraft.
CASA C-235     Spain
  Indonesia
Tactical transport 2
Armed reconnaissance helicopter
Aérospatiale Gazelle     France Light attack helicopter/Observation helicopter SA 342L1 16 [31] In 2003 only 26 were operational.[32] One (no#E-342) crashed on August 1, 2008, killing the crew.[33] Two crashed on January 24, 2007, killing the Defence Minister. All were equipped with HOT missiles between 1982 and 1983. Remaining helicopters been modernized and improved with Israeli technology .[33]
Military helicopter
Mil Mi-17     Soviet Union
  Russia
Medium lift-transport Mi-17-1V
Mi-171E
9
1
[31][33][34][35]
Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma     France Medium lift-transport SA.330L
AS 332B
6
2
Aérospatiale AS 332 Super Puma     France
  United Kingdom
  Europe
Medium lift-transport 332M 12 A total of one unit was delivered.[31] Since then only six are in use. Various sources state that one or few units might have been acquired in the AS332M variant. It is being planned to modernise, overhaul and upgrade the remaining helicopters until 2018.[33]
Eurocopter AS532 Cougar     France
  United Kingdom
  Europe
Medium lift-transport AS532 UL/AL 8
Bell 412     United States
  Canada
Transport/Utility helicopter 4
Bell 214     United States Transport/Utility helicopter 214B 1
Bell 212     United States
  Canada
Transport/Utility helicopter 4
Bell 206     United States
  Canada
Light utility helicopter 9
Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil     France
  Europe
Light utility helicopter AS350 B
AS 350B2
AS 350B3
6
1
2
Eurocopter Fennec     France
  Europe
Light attack helicopter/Light utility helicopter AS550 C3 Fennec
AS555 Fennec 2
11
7

References

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  1. ^ "French Light Tank AMX-13". www.tanks-encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w International Institute for Strategic Studies (15 February 2023). The Military Balance 2023 (1st ed.). Routledge. p. 398. ISBN 978-1032508955.
  3. ^ a b International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 13, 2024). The Military Balance 2024 (1st ed.). Routledge. p. 432. ISBN 978-1032780047.
  4. ^ ARG. "BLR Armored Personnel Carrier". Military-Today.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2007. Retrieved 2013-03-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ "Otokar delivered the Ural 4x4 armored vehicle to Ecuador". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  6. ^ "DefesaNet". DefesaNet. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
  7. ^ "Exército do Equador Adquire Segundo Lote de Utilitários Agrale Marruá | PoliticaExterna.com". Archived from the original on 2009-09-04. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
  8. ^ Nome (obrigatório) (2009-08-27). "Exército do Equador adquire segundo lote de utilitários Marruá | Mudamos de casa". Pbrasil.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
  9. ^ "U.S. military trains with Ecuadorians on mounted operations | Article | The United States Army". Army.mil. 2010-05-06. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
  10. ^ "Embajada de la Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela - Buscar". Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  11. ^ "Google".
  12. ^ "Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle: CUCV II". Olive-drab.com. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
  13. ^ Publicado por Intelligence, Defense, Security Service (2010-09-03). "Intelligence, Defense and Security: ECUADOR RECIBE DONACION DE CAMIONES MILITARES DE EEUU". Intelligenceservicechile.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2013-03-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ "Home | Embassy Of The United States Quito, Ecuador". Ecuador.usembassy.gov. Archived from the original on 2013-03-18. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
  15. ^ Infodefensa.com, Revista Defensa (February 1, 2020). "Ecuador inicia los trabajos para recuperar 35 vehículos Engesa - Noticias Infodefensa América". Infodefensa.com.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i "162 multipurpose trucks delivered to 11th Armored Cavalry Brigade of Ecuador Army 3004154". www.armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  17. ^ "Ejercito Ecuatoriano". July 19, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19.
  18. ^ "Ejercito Ecuatoriano - Curso de Armas Anti-tanque (EIE)". July 19, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19.
  19. ^ a b Coatepeque (2009-12-14). "China Defense Blog: Next Stop, Ecuador". China-defense.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
  20. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (2022). The military balance. 2022. Abingdon, Oxon. p. 414. ISBN 978-1032279008.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  21. ^ a b "Latin American Light Weapons National Inventories". Fas.org. 2008-05-30. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
  22. ^ Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  23. ^ "EcuadorTimes.net | Breaking News, Ecuador News, World, Sports, Entertainment » China donated 10,000 'modern' versions of AK47 rifles to Ecuador". www.ecuadortimes.net.
  24. ^ a b "HK33: German Arms in Ecuador". Bits.de. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
  25. ^ "A 5.56 X 45mm "Timeline" 2008". The Gun Zone. 2012-05-31. Archived from the original on 2010-01-04. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
  26. ^ "Heckler & Koch HK 21 - General Purpose Machine Gun / Light Machine Gun / Automatic Rifle - History, Specs and Pictures - Military, Security and Civilian Guns and Equipment". Militaryfactory.com. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
  27. ^ Gearinger, Stephen (December 1998). "The HK 21E Machine Gun: Mission Compatability [sic] Second to None". Small Arms Review. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  28. ^ "Ecuadorian military aviation OrBat". Milaviapress.com. Archived from the original on 2009-04-28. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
  29. ^ marquito49. "fuerza aerea: Aviación del Ejército de Ecuador". Aviacionmilitarsudamericana.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2013-03-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ "Ecuadorian Army receives M28 Skytruck | Jane's 360".
  31. ^ a b c "Ecuador Army Aviation Aircraft Types". Aeroflight.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
  32. ^ "Ejército Ecuatoriano". Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  33. ^ a b c d "Part 12". Saorbats. 2011-10-28. Archived from the original on 2012-12-30. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
  34. ^ "Ecuador compra dos helicópteros Mi-17 a Rusia por 22 millones de dólares y estudia adquirir siete UAVs". Archived from the original on January 3, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
  35. ^ "Helicóptero militar se accidenta en la Amazonía de Ecuador: ¿qué se sabe sobre los pasajeros?". El Tiempo. EFE. 26 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.