Dhruv case: COAD anticipated in 2009 “news” in the purchase of helicopters

In May 2009 the Air Operations and Defense Command (COAD for its Spanish acronym) of the Ecuadorian Air Force (FAE for its Spanish acronym) anticipated “news” in the technical specifications in the engines of five (than seven) Dhruv helicopters, acquired in 2008 for $ 45 ‘200,000 to the Indian company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

This was part of the “working papers” that used the State Comptroller to audit concluded in 2013 and that determined “lack of coordination in the implementation of the purchase contract; missed deadlines in the delivery of logistics package “, recommending various administrative sanctions.

In the document released this weekend by Assemblyman Ramiro Aguilar is reported that in May 15, 2009 the defense minister at the time, Javier Ponce, was informed that five helicopters delivered by HAL, “six out of ten engines decrease life potential for operation: 04 engines with two years 01 engine with three years and 01 four years, which together account for 15 years in the potential of all engines received, (so) the technical committee (of FAE) considers to be detrimental to the institution. ”