Ecuadorian Armed Forces Receive 15 URAL 4×4 Armored Personnel Carriers From Turkey
Ecuador’s Armed Forces received 15 URAL 4×4 armored personnel carriers from Turkish military vehicle manufacturer Otokar last week. The official handover ceremony took place at the “Mariscal Sucre” Air Base in Quito, the capital of Ecuador. Former Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso (whose term ended on November 23, 2023), Ecuadorian Defense Minister Luis Lara Jaramillo, and a number of military officials attended the event.
Speaking at the occasion, former Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso pointed out that there were a few days left in his term of office and expressed his pride at leaving behind an army with improved technical and operational capabilities, thanks to the total investment of $430 million made in all three wings of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces during his administration. According to the former president, these investments allowed them to acquire armored vehicles with improved ballistic and anti-mine protection, helmets, bulletproof vests, and rifles, 500 parachutes, telecommunications equipment, and mobile camps, as well as more than 5,700 weapon and ammunition kits. The former President also stated that they provided over $600 million in acquisition and improvement financing for aircraft, helicopters, ships, vehicles, and the construction of the Tababela Joint Air Base.
In addition to the URAL 4×4 Armored Personnel Carrier, the Ecuadorian Armed Forces received 20 Cobra II 4×4 armored vehicles from Otokar last August. Ecuador’s Armed Forces reported that they purchased Cobra II armored vehicles to strengthen their operational capabilities against threats such as terrorism, drug trafficking, and organized crime groups in the country. It is expected that the newly acquired Ural armored vehicles will be used for similar purposes.
The Otokar URAL is a 4×4 armored vehicle designed for police, law enforcement, and paramilitary forces. The URAL Armored Personnel Carrier can transport up to 9 people in the 5-door version and up to 10 people in the 3-door version, including the driver, commander, and equipped personnel, in a comfortable environment even in the most difficult conditions. Depending on the user’s requirements, the roof of the vehicles can be equipped with an open or closed gun turret that can rotate 360 degrees. Depending on the turret type, 5.56x45mm, 7.62x51mm, or 12.7mm machine guns can be mounted on the vehicle, while protective shields around the turret protect the gunner. An internally controlled 7.62mm machine gun turret can be added on the URAL Armored Personnel Carrier if required. In addition to the Ural Armored Personnel Carrier vehicles, which have turrets suitable for a variety of weaponry, there are existing versions such as ambulance, internal security vehicle, personnel carrier, refueling vehicle, command control vehicle, and special operations vehicle.
The Ural armored vehicle has a total length of 4.9 meters, a width of 2.2 meters, and a weight of 8 tons. The vehicle has a top speed of 110 km/h and is powered by a 250-horsepower turbocharged diesel engine. Furthermore, the vehicle can climb 60% steep slopes, hang on to 40% side slopes, and traverse shallow depths of 0.7 meters thanks to its permanent 4-wheel drive, lockable center differential, high-capacity axle and suspension.