Ecuador signs contract with Airbus for two C295s

An Airbus C295 transport aircraft from a previous Ecuadorian Air Force order departs Airbus' Seville production facility for delivery on 6 June 2014. (Airbus Defence and Space Electronics (formerly Cassidian Optroni))

The government of Ecuador announced the acquisition of two Airbus C295 aircraft on 18 October. President Guillermo Lasso revealed the deal on social media platforms, highlighting the security and emergency response roles the aircraft are set to play.

“We have finalized the purchase of two C295 aircraft from Airbus, which will allow us to strengthen the army and navy with two aircraft that will be used for security and to assist Ecuadorians in times of emergency,” Lasso stated on his official X (formerly Twitter) account.

Victor de la Vela, senior vice-president and general manager of Airbus Defence and Space for Latin America, stated on LinkedIn, “We have signed a significant contract with the Ministry of Defense of Ecuador for two C295 aircraft. These assets are key strategic elements for the state, with the purpose of strengthening overall security and providing the necessary operational capacity to support the Ecuadorian population in times of humanitarian crisis.”

The Ecuadorian Air Force operates three C295 aircraft, while the army flies two CN235-100 aircraft on transport missions and the navy possesses a single CN235-100 for maritime patrol duties.

The acquisition comes as Ecuador faces security challenges related to organised crime groups. The government is additionally focused on strengthening its logistical capacities to respond to potential emergencies.