Indian helicopters to Ecuador

Indian Helicopters to Ecuador

In August 2008, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Ecuador awarded Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India’s premier public sector aircraft manufacturing company, a contract for supply of seven Dhruv helicopters.

On 13 February, General R. Bohorquez, Chief of the Air Force of Ecuador, received from HAL in the presence of India’s Minister of Defence and senior officials, the first five helicopters to be supplied.  The helicopters were delivered at the end of March and a team of Indian technicians and pilots accompanied the Ecuadorian Air Force to assembly and test the machines.
This contract for the helicopters, the first to be sold by India abroad, marks an important step in the bilateral relations and the confidence shown by the Ecuadorian government in India’s industrial prowess.

Report 1 HAL
Report 2 HAL
Press report Hoy 1
Press report El Comercio
Press report Spanish People
Press report Expreso Guayaquil
Photos of Salinas sea rescue in Dhruv

President Correa checks the new helicopters

From left to right: General Fabián Varela, Commander of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces; Deepak
Bhojwani, Ambassador of India; Javier Ponce, Minister of Defense of Ecuador; and General
Rodrigo Bohórquez, Commander of the Ecuadorian Air Force.

Ambassador Deepak Bhojwani delivers a speech during the ceremony.

Ambassador Bhojwani hands over symbolic helicopters to the Ecuadorian authorities.

The HAL team with Ambassador Bhojwani and the Ecuadorian Dignataries.