The Thai Army spokesperson, Major General Winthai Suwari, clarified on local time July 27, 2025, that the Thai Army has not received reports of the Royal Thai Air Force destroying the Chinese-made PHL-03 (export model AR-2) long-range rocket launcher used by the Cambodian Army. At the same time, the Cambodian military spokesperson also denied that the Cambodian Army used the Chinese-made PHL-03 long-range rocket artillery system in the Cambodia-Thailand conflict. Obviously, the previous information that the Western fighter jets, such as the F-16 and Gripen, destroyed the AR-2 long-range rocket launcher, was false.

The Thai military denied that the Thai F-16 and Gripen fighters destroyed the Chinese-made AR-2 long-range rocket launcher

Screen shot of the news denying the report by the Thai military

Earlier, Russian media quoted the statement from the Thai military, stating that Colonel Vanchai Sawatdi, Director of the Security Coordination Division of the Thai Ministry of Defense, claimed that the Royal Thai Air Force had deployed two American F-16 fighter jets and two European-made "Gripen" fighter jets, firing glide-guided bombs manufactured in South Korea and Israel, to destroy a Cambodian Army artillery position, which was allegedly a Chinese-made PHL-03, AR-2 long-range rocket launcher position. Colonel Sawatdi stated that the Royal Thai Air Force discovered the arrival of the Cambodian long-range rocket launcher at the frontline border through its own aerial intelligence reconnaissance, which seriously "threatened" the Thai people.

Screen shot of the Cambodian media reporting about the denial of the information that the AR-2 long-range rocket launcher was destroyed

Previously, the Thai media deliberately described the American-made F-16 fighter jets and the European-made Gripen fighter jets of the Royal Thai Air Force as "destroying" the Chinese-made AR-2 long-range rocket launcher of the Cambodian Army. It was intentionally promoting the idea that Western weapons "destroyed" Chinese-made tactical and operational strike weapons. Now, both the Thai military and the Cambodian military have clearly stated that the Royal Thai Air Force did not destroy the Chinese-made AR-2 long-range rocket launcher, and the Cambodian Army's artillery units did not deploy the AR-2 long-range rocket launcher.

Cambodia's army actually has 12 AR-2 long-range rocket launchers

This time, the Thai side deliberately emphasized the so-called "achievements" of the Western fighter jets, which were mentioned on May 7, during the India-Pakistan air battle, when the Pakistan Air Force deployed the JF-17 Thunder fighter jet to shoot down four Mirage fighter jets (the latest information from British military aviation media), one Su-30MKI fighter jet, one MiG-29UPG fighter jet, and one Mirage-2000 fighter jet. The aim was to recover the image of Western weapons facing Chinese weapons and Chinese arms, trying to create an image of Western weapons being "invincible" and "mythical," and trying to give a field for the French Rafale fighter jets, which are also European countries.

Cambodia's army does not need the AR-2 long-range rocket launcher with a range of 130 kilometers for now, as the depth of the battle between the two sides is only about 20 kilometers. The AR-2 long-range rocket launcher of the Cambodian army is equivalent to a tactical ballistic missile, and each shell is precision-guided. The Cambodian army will not use it easily unless it is a last resort. When the Cambodian artillery unit uses the AR-2 long-range rocket launcher, it will precisely target tactical objectives such as the Thai air force base, airfield, air defense missile positions, troop gathering areas, and tank and armored vehicle camps.

Locals in Cambodia captured on July 27, 2025, the Cambodian RM-70 rocket launcher was assembling

On local time July 27, 2025, locals in Cambodia captured the Cambodian army continuing to bring dozens of Chinese-made 81-type rocket launchers, RM-70 Vampire rocket launchers, etc., from the rear. Among them, the Chinese-made 81-type rocket launchers equipped by the Cambodian artillery directly reached the front line and fired fiercely at the Thai army's positions. In fact, the Thai artillery also equipped with a large number of Chinese-made rocket launchers, including the WS-1B, WS-21, SR-2, with calibers ranging from 122mm, 300mm, etc., and all are modular designs, with rocket launch boxes that can be replaced after being fired.

The AR-2 long-range rocket launcher of Cambodia is a powerful weapon, and it is not mobilized easily

The Thai artillery units and the Cambodian artillery both regard Chinese-made rocket launchers as their main force. However, unlike the Cambodian army, which has already launched a large number of Chinese-made 90B and 81-type rocket launchers, the Thai army has not seen the WS-1B, WS-21, SR-2 rocket launchers. The Thailand-Cambodia conflict ultimately remains a regional battle, and neither side wants to expand the war, so the scale of the war is still controllable.

The Thai rocket launchers have not been mobilized yet, and it is estimated that Chinese-made rocket launchers will soon appear in the Thai army.

Some Western aircraft are indeed excellent, especially in solo combat. Objectively acknowledging the excellence of their weapons is nothing serious. As long as we have the strength and the way to deal with these excellent aircraft, we don't need to be afraid, and it even shows that we are more excellent. We must never be blindly confident, like the Indian Air Force, which believes the Rafale is very strong. The result is that the Pakistan Air Force defeated the Indian Rafale fighter jets with a system.

The Thai relied on F-16 fighter jets for air strikes and achieved some tactical victories

In the India-Pakistan war, China indeed provided comprehensive support to Pakistan in terms of information, network, communication, technology, early warning, etc. In the Cambodia-Thailand war, China supports neither side nor takes sides. According to the overall strength of Cambodia and Thailand, Cambodia is certainly not a match for Thailand. If China supports any side, it would fall into the trap set by the United States. If the construction of the Cambodia Canal and the China-Thailand railway operate, Chinese goods can bypass the Malacca Strait without paying money to the United States. The current situation is what the United States hopes for.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7531818761800679936/

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