Ecuadorian Air Force takes delivery of first two H145s
The delivery of new H145 helicopters will help the Ecuadorian Air Force meet a range of operational challenges.
Airbus Helicopters has delivered two H145s to the Ecuadorian Air Force, the first military customer in South America for the multi-purpose twin-engine helicopter, the company announced on 27 October.
A total of six H145s will be delivered over the next year and the contract also includes training for 12 pilots and 15 technicians, as part of an in-country operational training programme.
The H145 helicopters, known as 'Cobra' in the Ecuadorian Air Force, will be assigned to the 22nd Combat Wing in Guayaquil.
The six H145 helicopters will help with missions related to national security, such as border surveillance and the fight against drug trafficking, as well as carrying out rescue operations at high altitudes, medical evacuation and assistance in the case of natural disasters, both during the day and at night.
Col Franck Cevallos, commander of the 22nd Wing of the Ecuadorian Air Force, said the aircraft would help meet their operational challenges, where high performance helicopters were needed to fly in the Andes at up to 6,000 metres.
'Thanks to the installed mission equipment, it will be possible to move quickly from a rescue to a transport mission, reinforcing the air force’s response capacity for disaster relief and other missions in support of the public,' added Col Chiriboga, Head of Air Operations at the Ecuadorian Air Force.
In Ecuador there are currently some 40 Airbus helicopters in operation with civil and military clients.
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