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ECUADOR - Ecuador Prepares to Purchase Fighter Planes

* ECUADOR

Ecuador Prepares to Purchase Fighter Planes
Defense Minister Javier Ponce revealed current negotiations to buy 12 fighter jets from the the South African Air Force

The Ecuador's Armed Forces are negotiating the purchase of 12 fighter aircraft, type Atlas Cheetah C (Mirage modified), from the South African Air Force, said Defense Minister Javier Ponce in the daily newspaper El Universo. The acquisition of these aircraft will renew the Ecuadoran Air Force's (FAE) fleet, whose aircraft have surpassed 30 years of use. Ponce foresees that the purchasing process will begin in Dec. and said the government plans on an initial payment of $35 million. For its part, the FAE recommended the purchase of the South African manufactured fighters after offers from countries like Spain and Chile exceeded the budget for the national fleet’s modernization.
Sep-24-2009 06:09pm