Defense delegates aeronautical overhaul and military spare parts contracts

The Ministry of National Defense delegated to three commanders of the Ecuadorian Navy and the Ecuadorian Air Force the processing of high-value contracts for the maintenance of military aircraft. The delegations were formalized through three ministerial agreements signed by Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo Rendón and published in the Official Registry No. 366 of Quito, on Thursday, September 10, 2026.

The three processes will be handled under the “Acquisition through import” procedure provided for in Article 6 of the General Regulation of the Organic Law of the National Public Procurement System, given that the services and goods are executed or acquired abroad. The delegation is based on the principle of decentralization and on literal m) of Article 10 of the Organic Law of National Defense, which empowers the minister to delegate his legal representation to force commanders and other authorities.

Overhaul of the SKA-350 aircraft engine

The agreement appearing on page 3 delegates to the Commander of the Guayaquil Aeronaval Station the contracting of the “Overhaul Service for Engine and Accessories PT6A-60A SKA-350”. The objective is to restore the operability of aircraft AN-237, intended for maritime surveillance, aeromedical evacuation, search and rescue, and humanitarian support in the island region during 2026.

• Reference budget: USD 619,508.00, excluding VAT.
• Financing: fiscal resources, source 001, expenditure group 73 (investment).
• The Pratt & Whitney PT6A-60A engine will be sent to a certified workshop abroad, including technical tests and return to Ecuador.
• The provider must prove certifications from the manufacturer and the competent aeronautical authority.

Update of AW119 MKII helicopter manuals

The agreement on page 11 delegates to the Commander of Combat Wing No. 22 the contracting of the “Online update service for technical manuals applicable to AW119 MKII helicopters”, in support of security operations for the National Hydrocarbon System.

• Budget: USD 10,600.00, charged to current expenditure (item 530701).
• The service will be provided for a period of 36 months and will be materialized within national territory via online access.
• Technical information is generated and updated by the manufacturer or its authorized representatives.
• The executing unit is the Decentralized Operating Entity (EOD) 070 2002, located in Guayaquil.

Spare parts for H-145 helicopters

The agreement on page 21 delegates to the Commander of Combat Wing No. 21 the “Acquisition of parts, spares, and consumables for the maintenance tasks of special equipment and H-145 aircraft”.

• Budget: USD 100,000.00, charged to current expenditure (item 531002).
• The goods are classified under code CPC 496409911, with no identified national production according to SERCOP.
• Direct importation avoids intermediaries and allows for the traceability of the parts to be maintained.
• The executing unit is EOD 070 2016, located in Guayaquil.

The three agreements were electronically signed by Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo Rendón and Secretary General José Francisco Zúñiga Albuja, and come into effect upon their signing, without prejudice to their publication in the Ministerial General Order and the Official Registry. The delegation does not imply a transfer of ownership of the competence, and the delegates shall be directly responsible for the acts carried out in its exercise.

The measure seeks to streamline the procurement of specialized aeronautical goods and services that have no national production, guaranteeing the operational availability of the Armed Forces’ aircraft in surveillance missions, hydrocarbon security, and emergency response. By concentrating management within the operational commands, the Ministry of Defense decongests its central structure and accelerates processes of high public value.

Source: Official Registry of Ecuador, No. 366, September 10, 2026, Executive Branch section – Agreements of the Ministry of National Defense, pages 3, 11, and 21 (ministerial agreements 312, 313, and 314).