Regarding the report from the Cambodian side, which claimed that the Cambodian air defense forces used the Chinese-made KS-1, Kaitan air defense missile to shoot down a Thai Air Force F-16 fighter jet, the Thai Air Force refuted it and denied the claim by Cambodian media that an F-16 fighter jet was shot down. It confirmed that all six Thai Air Force F-16 fighter jets returned safely after the mission. On July 24th, local time, the Thai Air Force responded, stating that the report by Cambodian media claiming that a Thai Air Force F-16 fighter jet was shot down earlier that day was "completely untrue." The Thai Air Force urged the public to rely only on reliable news sources for the latest information.
On the morning of July 24, 2025, six F-16 Fighting Falcons from the Udon Ratchathani base of the Royal Thai Air Force were deployed. After intense ground combat and rocket attacks, they attacked military positions near the temple complex in Cambodia. According to sources from the Thai military, this mission involved precise strikes against two Cambodian army division headquarters in the Chum Phearom area. Soon after the Thai Air Force F-16 fighter jets conducted an airstrike, Cambodian official media and local media claimed that at around 10:58 a.m. local time, a Thai Air Force F-16 fighter jet was shot down by Cambodia's air defense missile system (allegedly the Kaitan air defense missile).
The use of Thai Air Force F-16 fighter jets marked a significant escalation in the long-standing border dispute, which had previously been limited to artillery exchanges, small-scale ground conflicts, and the use of reconnaissance drones. For years, the Royal Thai Air Force has also used fighter jets for cross-border strike missions. It is reported that the Royal Thai Air Force has deployed a mixed fighter jet squadron, preparing for full-scale warfare, mainly consisting of 35 F-16 fighter jets, 7 JAS-39C/D Gripen fighter jets as the main force, and 30 F-5E/F Tiger II fighter jets as support for the combat task force.
Cambodia does not have a modern air force, but it possesses man-portable air defense systems. It is said that there is only one Kaitan air defense missile system, anti-aircraft guns (the Cambodian air defense forces also use trucks provided by South Korea as mobile anti-aircraft gun platforms, equipped with ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns). If the situation escalates further, if the Thai Air Force deploys the Gripen fighter jets for bombing missions, it would mark the first combat deployment of the Gripen fighter jets in Thailand's service and one of the first combat operations of the Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets globally. In response to the heavy threat from the Thai Air Force, the President of the Cambodian Senate, Hun Sen, stated, "General Sergio, the commander of the Second Army Zone of Thailand, opened fire on the Cambodian army, inciting this war." "This person once warned that he would capture Cambodia within three days. I also want to know his three-day strategy."
Escalation of Tension between Cambodia and Thailand
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1838588983866380/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.