MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Ecuador reinforces Colombia border with Russian choppers

Ecuador which already has acquired combat aircrafts and frigates from Brazil and Chile announced the purchase of three Russian helicopters to reinforce its border with Colombia, announced the Commander in Chief of the Army General Ernesto Gonzalez.

The three MI-17 transport choppers (which will increase the Ecuadorian fleet to 15 by 2009) are part of a "plan to modernize our military equipment" said Gonzalez, "We've already began pre-contract procedures for the MI-17, which is a helicopter that has given us excellent results. We've had them for over ten years, they have a great load capacity and a low operational cost", added General Gonzalez. Ecuadorian authorities have decided to reinforce patrolling along the border with Colombia following the Colombian army incursion on March first against a rebel FARC group camp which left 25 dead, including the number 2 of the organization Raul Reyes, an Ecuadorian national and two Mexicans. Ecuador suspended diplomatic relations with Colombia following the armed incursion. "We have sufficient equipment and elements" to patrol the border area with Colombia said the Army commander who added that "the crisis has decided us to increase our presence and our patrolling". Gonzalez revealed that Ecuador has approximately 6.000 foot soldiers permanently in the area along the border with Colombia plus another 1.000 men from units stationed in other parts of the country that are regularly rotated. Ecuador recently signed a contract with Brazil for the purchase of 24 Super Tucano low flying fighter planes considered excellent for jungle warfare, plus two second hand frigates from Chile. Furthermore the Ecuadorian Navy will be equipped with six UAV unmanned air vehicles and fast torpedo vessels.