As reported, in October 2022, the Ecuadorian ground forces signed a contract worth $65 million with the Israeli company Elbit Systems as the lead contractor for the supply of 137 armored vehicles of two types - Tiger Mk II (4x4) armored vehicles manufactured by the American-Israeli company MDT Armor (Shladot) and Mbombe 6 (6x6) armored personnel carriers manufactured by South African Paramount Group groups. In accordance with the contract, this equipment will make up a set of mechanized brigade, which Elbit Systems will deliver within two and a half years as fully integrated and equipped with network information and communication systems of its production, including a mobile information network based on the E-LynX software-defined radio system, a set of combat control information applications, as well as small reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles of vertical takeoff and landing MAGNI.
Armored vehicle Tiger Mk II (4x4) produced by the American-Israeli company MDT Armor (Shladot) (c) MDT ArmorElbit Systems, in a press release dated October 26, announced only "the signing of a contract for $ 65 million.
in order to supply a modernization solution for the army of one of the countries in Latin America." [...]
According to the statement of the commander of the Ecuadorian ground forces, General Gustavo Acosta, it is planned to create a new mechanized brigade in Manabi province on vehicles with improved mine protection to strengthen the protection of Ecuador's northern border with Colombia, violated by militants of the Colombian FARC rebel movement and organized drug-criminal groups.
The Tiger Mk II armored vehicle is produced by MDT Armour (Shladot) on the chassis of Ford F550 or Dodge RAM 5.7 pickups, with a 380 hp diesel engine. The car is offered in three versions of a five-door armored hull (short, medium and long) with a combat weight of 8 to 12 tons and has a capacity of six to 12 people. The vehicle can be equipped with a firing turret for mounting machine guns or grenade launchers or a remotely controlled combat module. The most significant known operator of the Tiger Mk II is the Mexican police.
The Mbombe 6 (6x6) armored personnel carrier with enhanced mine protection has a full combat weight of up to 27 tons and is capable of transporting up to 11 military personnel. Mine protection is declared at STANAG 4569 Level 4. Until now, it was known about the organization of the assembly of 50 Mbombe 6 machines in Jordan by Arabian Defense Industries (ADI, a joint venture of Paramount Group and the former Jordanian KADDB bureau), which, apparently, were then delivered to Field Marshal Haftar's forces in Libya in 2019. At the end of 2021, it was also announced the start of production of Mbombe 6 under the designation "Barys 6x6" in Kazakhstan by Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering (also created with the participation of Paramount Group), but there is no information about any deliveries yet.
Mbombe 6 (6x6) Jordanian-built armored personnel carrier (c) Paramount Group
