As of local time July 25, 2025, the Thai military has deployed its M42 "Duster" self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, "Stryker" wheeled assault vehicles, FV101 "Scorpion" light tanks, M113 armored personnel carriers, off-road vehicles produced using Japanese technology, and military trucks to the front lines at the Thai-Cambodian border. It's really a lot of Cold War-era NATO relics starting to engage in combat. Now, the Thai Army, Navy, and Air Force have a decisive advantage over Cambodia, but in this border conflict, the Cambodian military is trying to suppress with terrain and rocket artillery. Overall, if the Thai military mobilizes all its forces, the current strength of the Cambodian military cannot match it, not even having an air force. How can they confront the Thai Air Force's F-16 fighter jets and Saab JAS-39 Gripen fighters? According to Indian sources, the Thai Air Force has deployed fourth-generation Saab JAS-39 Gripen jet fighters manufactured in Sweden near the disputed territory, preparing for a large-scale air strike on the Cambodian military, with at least 48 Thai Air Force fighter jets, including F-16s and JAS-39 Gripen, ready to bomb Phnom Penh. The Cambodian Air Force is powerless and can only watch helplessly as they are attacked. Cambodia is too poor to maintain an air force; it has only ended its civil war 20 years ago, and its scale is far behind Thailand. Currently, the Thai military has already entered Cambodia's territory, occupying Preah Vihear Temple and the crossing points on Highway 62.
From the current crossfire at the border, Cambodia basically has no air force, while the Thai military has also been hit hard by the Cambodian artillery, especially the rocket artillery, which has caused some confusion and losses. Looking at the terrain, the Thai side is flat and should be easy to control, while the Cambodian side needs to cross cliffs and steep mountains, which is indeed difficult.
Generally speaking, both sides are countries with little strategic depth, and the importance of the air force may not be very significant in the original jungles of Southeast Asia, referring to the Myanmar civil war. However, the premise is that the Cambodian military has countermeasures against Thailand, especially ground warfare capabilities to strike. With the Thai Army mobilizing large forces, especially armored forces, the advantages of the Cambodian military in the frontline areas are increasingly being suppressed.
Tension between Cambodia and Thailand is escalating
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1838587907383308/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.