Ecuador invests USD 24.5 million in weaponry to modernize its Armed Forces amid the security crisis

President Daniel Noboa during the delivery of weaponry. The Government of Ecuador initiated a new phase of modernization of its Armed Forces' weaponry with an investment of USD 24.5 million, intended to incorporate rifles, machine guns, and complementary equipment for military operations. The delivery, led by President Daniel Noboa in Guayaquil, takes place amid the violence crisis the country is experiencing and the growing participation of the military in internal security tasks to confront organizations linked to drug trafficking and organized crime. The ceremony was held on November 10th at the Simón Bolívar Air Base, with the presence of the Minister of Defense, Gian Carlo Loffredo, and authorities from the three branches of the Armed Forces. According to information disseminated by the Presidency of Ecuador, the supply includes 5,570 automatic rifles, 20 light machine guns, and 24,253 units of complementary equipment, ranging from logistical materials to items designed to improve the operational conditions of military personnel. The new rifles correspond to the Arad model, manufactured by the Israeli company Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), according to information published by Ecuavisa. Their incorporation will allow for the progressive replacement of part of the weaponry that Ecuadorian military units have used for decades, including equipment from before the Alto Cenepa conflict, which faced Ecuador and Peru in 1995. This renewal represents an update to the individual equipment of the soldiers, especially those deployed in territorial control operations, patrols, and actions against criminal structures. Authorities maintain that having more modern weaponry will allow for the strengthening of the response capacity of the military units involved in both urban areas and border sectors. The Ministry of Defense noted that the acquisition is part of the efforts to improve the operational capacities of the Armed Forces. During the event, Loffredo highlighted the importance of equipping the military with adequate tools for the missions they currently carry out, while the General Commander of the Army, John Eduardo Miño, announced that the new equipment would be incorporated into operations immediately. The new phase of modernization of the Armed Forces' weaponry has an investment of USD 24.5 million. The distribution of the weaponry includes deliveries for the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force. However, the official figures present a difference of 200 rifles: while the Presidency reported a total supply of 5,570 units, the breakdown by institution totals 5,770, corresponding to 3,220 for the Army, 1,667 for the Navy, and 883 for the Air Force. To date, the origin of this discrepancy has not been specified. In addition to the weapons, the investment includes materials intended for the maintenance of military operations. According to Ecuavisa, among the items contemplated in the contractual background are backpacks, sleeping bags, tents, individual tableware, and sanitary kits. These supplies are used during the prolonged deployments of personnel in different regions of Ecuadorian territory. The incorporation of Israeli rifles has precedents in the military acquisition programs developed by Ecuador in recent years. In November 2022, the specialized outlet Infodefensa reported on the purchase of 5,700 IWI Arad rifles, within the context of a weapon renewal process that also included other defense equipment. However, the reviewed public documentation does not allow it to be established whether the weapons delivered this week correspond to that acquisition or a subsequent contract. A complete breakdown of the individual cost of the rifles, machine guns, and complementary supplies included in the investment announced by the Executive has also not been disclosed. The program is developing while Ecuador keeps its Armed Forces involved in operations against organized criminal groups, particularly in provinces affected by disputes between criminal organizations. Since January 2024, when Noboa declared the existence of an internal armed conflict, the military has increased its participation in controls, patrols, interventions, and joint operations with the National Police. Ecuador continues under internal armed conflict and multiple states of exception. Military presence has extended to cities, penitentiary centers, strategic corridors, and border areas, in a scenario marked by international drug trafficking, extortion, kidnappings, and homicides. Authorities consider that strengthening institutional capacities is one of the components of their strategy to face these threats. The modernization also coincides with an increase in the acquisition of military material by Ecuador. According to information published by Primicias, based on records from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the country reached its highest volume of major arms imports in 2025 in the last decade. This indicator measures the transfer of military equipment through its own methodology and does not directly equate to the monetary value of the purchases. The government has not publicly detailed the complete schedule for the next deliveries nor the quantity of old weaponry that will be retired from service. Specific indicators to evaluate the operational impact of this renewal have also not been disseminated. For now, the delivery of USD 24.5 million in weaponry and equipment constitutes a new incorporation of material resources to the Armed Forces, which maintain responsibilities for national defense and participate in the security operations deployed by the Executive. The use of the new rifles and supplies will be integrated into the military activities in a country that continues to face high violence associated with criminal organizations.