German-designed Fassmer MPV70 Mk.II patrol ship to be built in Ecuador.

German shipbuilding company Fassmer reported that, in December 2019, it signed a contract with Ecuadorian Naval Shipyard Astilleros Navales Ecuatorianos (Astinave EP) in Guayaquil for the construction of a multi-purpose patrol ship Fassmer MPV70 Mk.II for the Ecuadorian Navy. The construction will be carried out by Astinave EP, with the assistance of Fassmer, including the supply of structure parts.

Fassmer MPV70 MK II project multi-purpose patrol ship for the Ecuadorian Navy (Picture source: Fassmer)

The Ecuadorian Navy has chosen the Fassmer MPV70 Mk.II as a result of an international tender under the Ecuadorian Navy's Multipurpose Combat Vessel programme. The contract was concluded for one ship, and it is still unclear how many such units the Ecuadorian Navy intends to acquire in the future.

The Fassmer MPV70 Mk.II project is a multi-purpose patrol ship with capabilities to transport cargo, search and rescue equipment and containerized equipment. The ship will be equipped with a landing platform for an 11-ton class helicopter, two high-speed interceptor boats in the stern, a powerful cargo crane, a fuel and cargo transfer station at sea. It will be possible to transport containers or landing boats In the central part of the hull, on the cargo deck.

Full project characteristics are not yet reported, except for the hull length of about 70 meters. The armament of the ship will consist in a 76 mm Leonardo Super Rapid automatic gun and two small-caliber, remotely operated guns (presumably Rafael Typhoon). The radio-electronic armament will include an Astinave EP Orion ASBU and an integrated mast with a multifunction radar produced jointly by Astinave EP and the Italian company VirtuaLabs SRL (presumably based on the VirtuaLabs SEADAR radar).

For Fassmer, the contract with Ecuador has been another major success in the Latin American defense market, with various Fassmer projects already under construction for patrol boats in Colombia and Chile, as well as for patrol boats in Colombia. 

Fassmer MPV70 MK II project multi-purpose patrol ship for the Ecuadorian Navy (Picture source: Fassmer)