The series of sharp clashes between Ecuador and Peru of 1981 left the
dispute between the two countries unresolved as there was still no
definitive delimitation of the border. During the following years, both
parties had to deal with a series of internal and external issues and,
ultimately, these affected the planning and operational capabilities of
their respective armed forces. While Peru underwent a severe economic
crisis including hyperinflation caused by poor management of its
economy, and a leftist insurgency, Ecuador underwent a transition from a
centrally-controlled economy to a free market: in turn, it was one of
countries in Latin America least affected by the precipitous fall in
regional economic indices of the 1990s. These factors had an immediate
impact upon the armed forces of both countries: they proved decisive for
the development of their defensive and offensive planning, and would
exercise direct influence upon the decisions taken by field commanders
of both countries during the final, third war between Ecuador and Peru
in 1995.
Drawing upon extensive research in the official archives from both the
Fuerza Aérea del Ecuador and Fuerza Aérea del Perú (FAP), with
documentation from multiple private sources in both countries, Air Wars
Between Ecuador and Peru, Volume 3 completes the history of the aerial
operations launched by the forces of both nations in the brief - but
also the most violent - engagement between these two countries.
By accessing details from both parties to the conflict, this volume
avoids biased and one-sided coverage of the conflict, while providing
detail of the military build-up, capabilities and intentions of both of
the air forces involved, their training, planning, and the conduct of
combat operations.
Illustrated by more than 100 exclusive photographs, half a dozen maps
and 15 authentic color profiles, Air Wars Between Ecuador and Peru,
Volume 3 provides the first authoritative account of the air warfare
between Ecuador and Peru in early 1995.
