Thailand-Cambodia Border Clashes: Thai F-16 Fighter Jets Deployed Against Cambodian Military Targets

Members of the Thai army take part in a ceremony in Saraburi province, Thailand on January 18, 2023. Thailand’s military is significantly larger than that of neighboring Cambodia, both in terms of personnel and weaponry. Thailand has 361,000 active-duty personnel, three times more than Cambodia. The country also boasts a well-funded military with a highly equipped and trained air force, considered one of the best in Southeast Asia according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Thailand, classified as a major non-NATO ally by the US, has received support for its weapons programs from the US for decades. In recent years, Thailand has strengthened ties with China and developed a robust domestic weapons industry with assistance from countries like Israel, Italy, Russia, South Korea, and Sweden.

The Thai air force possesses modern fighter jets like the Swedish Gripen, as well as older US-made jets. In contrast, Cambodia lacks a combat-capable air force. On the ground, Thailand has a significant number of battle tanks and artillery pieces, surpassing Cambodia in terms of military hardware.

Thailand’s armed forces actively participate in international military exercises, notably the annual Cobra Gold exercises co-hosted with the US Indo-Pacific Command. These exercises, which began in 1982, have expanded to include numerous other participants, making it the longest-running international military exercise globally.