The deployment of the Rayo Justiciero (Vengeful Lightning) Drone Squadron has emerged as a cornerstone of the Ecuadorian Air Force’s (FAE) strategy to dismantle transnational criminal networks. By tightening aerial surveillance and suffocating the logistical corridors used by drug trafficking, illegal mining, and other illicit economies in remote areas, these unmanned systems represent a high-tech turning point in national security.
“From an operational standpoint, this squadron has allowed us to close critical gaps in surveillance and territorial control,” Brigadier General Mauro Bedoya Aviles, commander of the FAE’s Air and Space Operations Command, told Diálogo. These are areas “that could not be covered permanently, safely, and efficiently by manned aircraft or ground patrols.”
These platforms overcome traditional limitations, providing what military analysts call “persistent surveillance” — the ability to maintain continuous coverage over large areas, nighttime observation, and operation in high-risk environments, Brig. Gen. Bedoya said. The use of drones allows for a prolonged presence in sensitive corridors and over critical infrastructure, with fewer logistical and operational requirements than conventional means.
“The use of optical and thermal sensors improved the detection of irregular activities in low-visibility conditions. Combined with photogrammetry and 2D and 3D modeling capabilities, we have reinforced situational awareness by identifying changes in the terrain and illegal enclaves,” Brig. Gen. Bedoya explained. “Real-time information transmission reduced reaction times and optimized command and control without increasing physical presence in risk areas.”
From transit point to global hub
The strategic challenge for Ecuador is rooted in its geography. Wedged between Colombia and Peru — the world’s primary cocaine producers — Ecuador was long considered a peaceful transit “island.” However, recent years have seen the country integrated into the global narcotic supply chain.
The tipping point occurred in January 2024, when a wave of coordinated violence by narco-terrorist groups led President Daniel Noboa to declare an internal armed conflict. This move designated 22 transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) as terrorist entities, fundamentally shifting the role of the FAE and the military from external defense to the front lines of domestic security.
As international pressure tightened on Caribbean routes, Mexican and Balkan cartels pivoted toward Ecuador’s Pacific coast. Guayaquil, the nation’s economic engine, has become the “nerve center” of this struggle. The city’s massive ports are the primary targets for “contamination” — the practice of hiding tons of cocaine within legitimate cargo, such as banana exports.
“These illicit economies require territorial control to sustain activities such as drug trafficking, illegal mining, and extortion,” Renato Rivera, a researcher with the Global Initiative Against Organized Crime, told France24. Mario Pazmiño, former director of intelligence for Ecuador, warned: “When organized crime enters a country, it permeates its structures.”
This competition for the “cocaine superhighway” has pushed Ecuador’s homicide rate to an estimated 50 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2025. Designated terrorist groups like Los Choneros and Los Lobos no longer just move product; they fight for territorial sovereignty, using violence to fund their structures.
In response to this surge, the Ecuadorian state established the Security Block in late 2023. This strategic command coordinates the Ministry of Defense, of the Interior, the Armed Forces, and the National Police. Since January 2024, the Block has concentrated operations in provinces under a state of emergency, conducting high-intensity patrols and raids aimed at seizing drugs and weapons and dismantling criminal cells. More recently, the Rayo Justiciero serves as the “eyes in the sky” for this integrated force, providing the real-time intelligence necessary for actions with precision.
Intelligence and deterrence
The Rayo Justiciero Squadron, activated in September 2025 and assigned to the Air and Space Operations Command and the 22nd Combat Wing based in Guayaquil, has already conducted more than 1,120 missions, reclaiming the initiative from TCOs.
“The sustained use of UAV-UAS systems has made it possible to identify recurring patterns of transnational crime in illicit corridors and illegal mining enclaves. These include nighttime operations, the gradual opening of secondary access points, the progressive expansion of intervened areas, and the concentration of activities in logistics hubs,” said Brig. Gen. Bedoya.
Analysis of 2D and 3D images reveals changes in the terrain, and thanks to persistent surveillance, it is possible to identify patterns of mobility and concealment. This information, integrated with other intelligence sources, translates into more accurate and effective operational planning.
“The impact of the UAV–UAS Squadron on disrupting illicit air routes is mainly reflected in early detection, deterrence, and command and control support, rather than as a means of direct interdiction,” Brig. Gen. Bedoya emphasized, also highlighting the value of these capabilities for international cooperation against transnational threats.
Strategic alliances
The success of these operations is a testament to Ecuador’s domestic resolve, bolstered by ironclad support from partner nations. The United States for instance, remains a primary strategic ally, providing critical assistance in key areas: defense and security, joint maritime operations, and intelligence exchange.
The collaboration was recently solidified in September 2025 when U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) donated advanced radar systems and signed a new Memorandum of Agreement on Communications Information Security.
This partnership yields tangible results. In June 2025, for example, U.S. aerial surveillance assisted in a historic maritime interdiction near the Galapagos, seizing over 2 tons of cocaine. The effectiveness of this partnership was on full display yet again in early December 2025, when advice from U.S. Special Forces to the Ecuadorian Army contributed to the seizure of 1.4 tons of cocaine.
Challenges and self-sufficiency
Despite the progress, challenges remain regarding communication links and cybersecurity, according to Brig. Gen. Bedoya. However, the FAE is looking toward a future of self-sufficiency with several of these UAV–UAS systems designed and manufactured at the FAE’s Aerospace Research and Development Center.
“The Rayo Justiciero Squadron’s projection is supported by the technological development of the Ecuadorian Air Force Research and Development Center, which consolidated national capabilities to design and integrate vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drones such as the HORUS prototype, geared toward ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) and internal security missions,” Brig. Gen. Bedoya said.
This effort, supported by the Air Force Industry Directorate, strengthens “a national industrial base in unmanned aerial systems, ensuring operational sustainability, reducing external dependence, and positioning these capabilities as a strategic component for territorial control and response to emerging threats,” Brig. Gen. Bedoya concluded.
