AIRFORCES Inc. Reports On The Ecuadorian Army Receiving Their First Two New AS350B2s Helicopters

Shown above is an AS350B2's Ecureuils helicopter obtained by the Ecuadorian Army 

AIRFORCES, Inc. Reports: It has been learned that Eurocopter has delivered the first of two new of a batch of nine AS350B2s helicopters to the Ecuadorian Army. The arrival of these new air assets come as an extensive modernization program within the Ecuadorian Armed Forces.

Delivery of the new helicopter was received by the Ecuadorian Army "Brigada de Aviacion" Army Aviation Brigade 15 which are station at the La Balvina Sangolqui base.

Present to receive the helicopter at the base in early January 2012 was Ecuadorian Defense Minister Mr. Javier Ponce and the head of Armed Forces Joint Command Army Commander Ernesto Gonzalez and Army Commander Patricio Cardenas, as well as other Ecuadorian military leaders.
Ecuador is one the first Nations in Latin America to have their military to "integrate" Eurocopter aircraft into their fleet of which the Ecuadorian Army now have nearly 30 Eurocopter helicopters in service. These include a sampling of 2ea. AS350B2's, 2ea. SA315B's 'Lamas", 2ea SA316 "Alouettes" and 19ea. SA342 "Gazalles", as well as 4ea. AS332 "Super Pumas".
The arrival of the new AS350B2's will be utilized to replace the much older SA315B's "Lamas" which according to our sources in Ecuador it appears that these new helicopter will be based in Guayaquil for army pilot training, reconnaissance and search and rescue (SAR).