US military C-5M Super Galaxy lands in Guayaquil

A United States Air Force Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy, a heavy-lift military transport aircraft, landed at the José Joaquín de Olmedo airport in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on September 24, 2026. The aircraft, identified by registration 87-0027, departed from a military base in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

While official reasons for the specific arrival have not been detailed by Ecuadorian defense or aeronautical authorities, the landing occurs amid strengthening bilateral security cooperation between the United States and Ecuador. This partnership aims to enhance logistical and operational capabilities to combat organized crime and drug trafficking in the region.

The C-5M Super Galaxy is a massive aircraft, measuring approximately 75 meters in length and 20 meters in height, capable of transporting over 120 tons of heavy cargo, including helicopters, tanks, and military vehicles.

This arrival follows recent joint operations in the region, such as a recent mission in Puerto Mocolí involving the Ecuadorian National Police and 50 members of the U.S. Southern Command, which resulted in the capture of a suspected leader of an organization linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.