On August 7, 2024, in Portoviejo, at the 3rd Manabí Mechanized Cavalry Brigade base, the Ecuadorian Army received 45 David 4×4 and six Mbombe 6 6×6 armored vehicles. These vehicles, provided by the President of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa Azín, are intended for use in urban areas, conflict zones, target acquisition, reconnaissance, and personnel transport, enhancing the operational readiness and capacity of the Ecuadorian Army.
Produced by MDT Armor Corporation, an American subsidiary of the Israeli company Shladot LTD, the David is a light 4×4 armored vehicle that has seen a decade of use in combat conditions. Built using components from either Toyota or Land Rover, it offers a maximum gross vehicle weight (GVW) of up to 4.5 tons, with up to STANAG II protection. It has been employed extensively by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in various combat scenarios, encountering threats ranging from rocks and stones to assault weapons and improvised devices.
Earlier this year, on May 10, 2024, the 3rd Manabí Mechanized Cavalry Brigade of the Ecuadorian Army received its first Mbombe 6 6×6 armored vehicles, manufactured by the South African company Paramount Group. The Ecuadorian Army purchased these 6×6 armored vehicles for military operations aimed at combating terrorist groups such as the FARC and drug trafficking organizations operating along the northern border. The first batch of Mbombe 6 armored vehicles was received by the Ecuadorian Army as part of a larger acquisition by the Latin American National Defense Forces and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), announced last year by Paramount at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) event in London. Although the Latin American client was not initially disclosed, it became evident that Ecuador is likely the recipient of these 20 military vehicles.
The decision to adopt Paramount’s Mbombe 6 was influenced by its protection capabilities against prevalent threats such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), antipersonnel mines, and unexploded ordnance. These threats are significant along the Ecuadorian northern border and pose risks to personnel across various operational environments, including border, rural, and urban settings. The Mbombe 6 complies with the STANAG 4569 standard, providing class 3 protection, including resilience against 7.62×51 caliber armor-piercing rounds. Its mine-resistant design, featuring a V-shaped hull capable of withstanding detonations up to 10 kg in TNT equivalent, further enhances its suitability for the specified operational context. Notably, several countries, including Ukraine and Kazakhstan, have chosen the Mbombe 6 armored vehicles due to their effectiveness. Moreover, these nations are anticipated to locally produce the 6×6 vehicle under license, indicating a recognition of its capabilities and potential for adaptation to diverse operational requirements.