List of equipment of the Royal Cambodian Army explained

This is a list of the equipment used by the Royal Cambodian Army.

In order to decrease its dependence on former Warsaw Pact military equipment (a legacy of the Kampuchea People's Revolutionary Armed Forces), Cambodia has begun to explore the possibility of purchasing Chinese and European vehicles and equipment.

On 10 December 2021, the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Samdech Hun Sen, ordered the Cambodian Armed Forces to destroy or put into reserve all US-origin military equipment, in response to the American backed military embargo imposed on Cambodia.[1] [2]

Infantry equipment

Sidearms

NameOriginTypeCalibreNotes
CF98[3] [4] Semi-automatic pistol9x19mm ParabellumStandard issue
Type 54[5] 7.62x25mm TokarevLimited use. Inherited from the KPRAF.
Tokarev
Makarov9×18mm Makarov

Personal defence weapon

NameOriginTypeCalibreNotes
Submachine gun 7.62×25mm TokarevUsed by Special Forces Command.
Daewoo K-79×19mm Parabellum
Mini UziStandard issue
MP5Limited use. Used by Special Forces Command.

Infantry rifles

NameOriginTypeCalibreNotes
Type 56Assault rifle7.62×39mmStandard issue.
Type 81-1
K1A[6] 5.56x45mm NATOUsed by Special Forces Command.
K2C
QBZ-97
SKSSemi-automatic rifle7.62×39mmLimited use. Inherited from the KPRAF.
AK-47Assault rifle
AKM
M16A1[7] [8] 5.56x45mm NATO
Pindad SS1

Precision Rifles

NameOriginTypeCalibreNotes
Type 79 ----Sniper rifle7.62×54mmRNorinco-made copy of the SVD, known as the Type 79. Used by Special Forces Command. Inherited from the KPRAF.
QBU-10Sniper rifle12.7×108mmUsed by Special Forces Command from 2019.
QBU-88Sniper rifle5.8×42mmUsed by Royal Gendarmerie
Accuracy International AWM ----Sniper rifle.338 Lapua Magnum

Machine Guns

NameOriginTypeCalibreNotes
RPDLight machine gun7.62×39mmStandard Issue. Inherited from the KPRAF.
RPK
QBB-955.56×45mm NATO
PKM----General-purpose machine gun7.62×54mmR
M84
DShKHeavy machine gun12.7×108mm
W85[9] Standard Issue.
QJZ-89

Grenade launchers

NameOriginTypeCalibreNotes
M79Grenade launcher40×46mmLimited use. Inherited from the KPRAF.
M203
QLU-1140x53mmUsed by Special Forces Special Forces Command and other Command

Anti-tank missiles and armored vehicles

NameOriginTypeCalibreNotes
RPG-2Rocket-propelled grenade82mmStandard issue. Inherited from the KPRAF.
RPG-785mm
Type 69Standard issue.
PF-89[10] Anti-tank rocket launcher80mmLimited use.
ArmbrustRecoilless rifle67mmUsed by Special Forces Command.
M20[11] 75mmLimited use. Inherited from the KPRAF.
B-1082mmIn active service. Inherited from the KPRAF.
Milan
Anti-tank guided missile115mmUsed by Special Forces Command.
Metis-M1 Russian Federation130mmThis weapon was recently acquired from Russia.

Man-portable air defense systems

NameOriginTypeQuantityNotes
9K32M Strela-2MMan-portable air defense system233[12] Status unknown. Inherited from the KPRAF.
HN-570 Status unknown.50 HN-520 HN-5A
FN-6210FN-6 — FN-16
QW-3460+Cambodia just bought this weapon from China in 2022

Artillery

Field artillery

NameOriginTypeCalibreQuantityNotes
ZiS-3Anti-tank gun76mm100In active service. Inherited from the KPRAF.
M101Howitzer105 mm~30In ceremonial use. Inherited from the KPRAF.
M-30122mm50In active service. Inherited from the KPRAF.
D-30120
M-46130mm50
Type 66152mm80In active service. Donated by China.

Rocket artillery

NameOriginTypeCalibreQuantityNotes
BM-13Multiple rocket launcher132mmUnknown Status unknown. Inherited from the KPRAF.
BM-14140mmUnknown
BM-21-1122mm200In active service.180 BM-21-1. Former KPRAF.

10 BM-21-1. Probably from Vietnam.

20 BM-21-1. From the Seychelles.

Type 81112In active service. 12 Type-90B. From China.
RM-70125In active service.5 RM-70. From Slovakia.120 RM-70. From the Czech Republic.
PHL-03300mm40+In active service. 40+ PHL-03. From China

Air defense system

NameOriginTypeCalibreQuantityNotes
ZPUAutocannon14.5mmThe Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) still has other air defense systems that cannot be demonstrated.
ZU-23-223mm
61-K37mm
S-6057mm
9K32M Strela-2MMan-portable air defense system233Status unknown. Inherited from the KPRAF.
HN-570 Status unknown.50 HN-520 HN-5A
FN-6210FN-6 — FN-16
QW-3460+Cambodia just bought this weapon from China in 2022
HQ-12Surface-to-air missile400mm4 batteriesKS-1C+ from China

Vehicles

Main battle tanks

NameOriginTypeQuantityNotes
T-54-2Main battle tank10In active service. Inherited from the KPRAF.
T-55A290In active service.115 T-55A. Inherited from the KPRAF.

60 T-55A. From Serbia.

100 T-55A. From Ukraine.

T-55AM1100In active service. 40 T-55AM1. From the Czech Republic

50 T-55AM1. From Poland.

Type 59
74[13] Type 59 is a version of the T-54A manufactured in China with Soviet assistance. In active service. Donated by China.

Light tanks

NameOriginTypeQuantityNotes
Type 62Light tank100Status unknown. Inherited from the KPRAF.
Type 63Amphibious light tank20Status unknown. Inherited from the KPRAF.
PT-7650In active service.25 PT-76 Mod. 1956. Inherited from the KPRAF.

25 PT-76 Mod. 1957. Inherited from the KPRAF.

Armoured personnel carriers

NameOriginTypeQuantityNotes
BTR-60PBArmored personnel carrier164In active service.40 BTR-60PB. Former KPRAF.

40 BTR-60PB. From the Czech Republic.

40 BTR-60PB. From Ukraine.

44 units purchased from Russia in 2013

BB-605+Made in Cambodia
Type 6350In active service. Donated by China.
ZFB-05UnknownIn active service. from China.
OT-64 SKOT55+All the OT-64 APCs have apparently gone to the Phnom Penh reserve force and some are used by military police.

Armoured engineering vehicles

NameOriginTypeQuantityNotes
BTS-2Armoured recovery vehicleIn active service. Inherited from the KPRAF.
BAT-MObstacle removing vehicleStatus unknown. Inherited from the KPRAF.
BTM-3Trench digging vehicle
PMPMobile pontoon bridge

Transports

NameOriginTypeQuantityNotes
Cargo trucks
ZIL-157Cargo truckUnknownPossibly retired. Former KPRAF.
ZIL-130
ZIL-131Standard truck of the RCA. Some possess KUNG shelters.Being replaced by Dongfeng trucks.
GAZ-66Standard truck of the RCA. Being replaced by Dongfeng trucks.
KamAZ-43114[14] Used by border units and units sent on UN peacekeeping operations.
Dongfeng EQ2081
Dongfeng CLW525502N
Dongfeng DWEQ2090GS26
Dongfeng EQ2070GUnknownStandard truck of the RCA.
Dongfeng EQ2162GS>227Standard truck of the RCA. Received from China as a donation in 2010, but unknown quantities have been donated over the years.
Hongyan Genpaw[15] 183Purchased using private funds. Split between the military, law enforcement and bodyguard unit (BHQ).
Hongyan Genlyon107
GMC M35A2>60There is more than 60 examples in service with the RCA as they also come from former FANK stocks.
Renault TRM 2000UnknownStatus unknown
Mercedes-Benz Unimog U5000Possibly on order
Mercedes-Benz Zetros
KIA K511200Includes dump truck variant.
Light cargo truckUnknownWidespread usage within the RCA. Standard vehicle in the Royal Cambodian Navy (RCN).
Hyundai MightyWidespread usage within the RCA. Acquired from the civilian market.
Hyundai Mighty II
Tractor units
AT-TArtillery tractorUnknownPossibly retired. Last spotted at Pochentong Air Base.
MAZ-537Tank transporterStatus unknown. Used during the Cambodian-Thai border dispute to transport T-55s to Preah Vihear. Possibly sourced from Serbia.
ZIL-130V1Tractor unitPossibly retired. Used during the 1997 Cambodian coup d'état.
Sinotruk HOWO A7Standard tractor unit of the RCA.
Scania R500[16] Spotted during the Cambodian-Thai border dispute being used transport T-55s from Sihanoukville to Preah Vihear.
Mercedes-Benz ArocsPossibly on order
Engineering and support vehicles
PTS-2Tracked amphibious transportUnknownThe Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) has further modernized this vehicle, equipping it with the FN-16 low-altitude air defense system.
Shacman L3000[17] Tanker truck290Used for transporting soldiers and other military equipment.
XCMG wheel loaderEngineering vehicleunknown
XCMG backhoe loaderEngineering vehicleunknown
XCMG excavator Engineering vehicleunknown
XCMG XJY240WQEngineering vehicleunknown
XCMG XJY240ZEngineering vehicleunknown
Iveco VM 90
Multirole truckUnknownChinese licensed production version. Comes in engineering workshop variant and ambulance variant. Mainly used by BHQ but is also present in the RCA.
UAZ-452AAmbulanceUsed as an ambulance
Light utility vehicles
UAZ-469Light utility vehicleUnknownPossibly retired. Former KPRAF.
storm wheeled Light 4x4 Used by BHQ and RAC
Beijing BJ2022Received as part of various donations of trucks to the RCA.
Beijing BJ80[18]
Dongfeng EQ2050Some are equipped with QJZ-89 heavy machine guns.
M151 ¼-ton 4×4From former FANK stocks. Used during military parades.
SOVAMAG TC10 DTUsed by cadet officers and by SF-911.
Land Rover WolfStatus unknown
KIA KM131[19] Widespread usage within the RCA. Examples used by SF-911 are equipped with PKM or Type 80 GPMGs.
Ford RaptorStandard pickup trucks of the RCA. Acquired from the civilian market.
Toyota Hilux

References

  1. Web site: 10 December 2021 . Cambodian PM orders armed forces not to use U.S. made military equipment . Xinhua News Agency.
  2. Web site: Dara . Mech . 10 December 2021 . Hun Sen Orders American-Made Weapons Destroyed, 'Thanks' US for Arms Embargo . VOD.
  3. Web site: 왕립 캄보디아군 VOL.1 . Royal Cambodian Army Vol.1 . 2021-03-12 . kjclub.com . ko.
  4. Web site: Bolding . Damon . 29 April 2014 . PLA Infantry Weapons: Small Arms of the World's Largest Army . 2021-03-12 . Small Arms Defense Journal .
  5. Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (27 January 2009). .
  6. Book: Picard . Michael . Holtom . Paul . Mangan . Fiona . 2019 . Trade Update 2019. Transfers, Transparency, and South-east Asia Spotlight . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20191211191444/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/S-Trade-Update/SAS-Trade-Update-2019.pdf . 11 December 2019 . 15 January 2022 . Small Arms Survey . 978-2-940548-75-0.
  7. Web site: Berrigan . Frida . Ciarrocca . Michelle . November 2000 . Report: Profiling the Small Arms Industry – World Policy Institute – Research Project . https://web.archive.org/web/20171213002940/http://www.worldpolicy.org/projects/arms/reports/smallarms.htm . 2017-12-13 . 17 August 2022 . World Policy Institute.
  8. News: Pear . Robert . Times . Special To the New York . 1990-01-01 . CAMBODIA ASSERTS U.S. GUERRILLA TIES . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-12-01 . 0362-4331.
  9. Web site: 2011-02-03. W85式/QJC88式高射机枪. firearmsworld.net. zh. 2017-08-04.
  10. Web site: Coatepeque. 2009-10-25. China Defense Blog: Cambodia's Chinese Weapon on Parade.. 2021-03-12. China Defense Blog.
  11. Web site: Cambodian army land ground forces military equipment and armoured vehicle pictures . armyrecognition.com.
  12. Web site: Trade Registers. 2021-03-13. armstrade.sipri.org.
  13. Web site: Chhengpor . Aun . 17 March 2018 . Cambodia-China Joint Army Drill Kicks Off, As US Military Relations Cool . 2021-03-13 . VOA . en.
  14. Web site: Military stand-off on Laos border. - Page 2 - Cambodia Expats Online: Forum News Information Blog. 2021-03-13. cambodiaexpatsonline.com.
  15. Web site: 2020-06-22. Purchase of military trucks not from national budget: PM. 2021-03-13. Khmer Times. en-US.
  16. Web site: Editorials on Cambodia:: Soviet-made T-55 tank is unloaded at Preah Sihanouk port - Cambodian Information Center. 2021-03-13. editorials.cambodia.org.
  17. Web site: Handover Ceremony of 10 Oil Tanker Trucks. akp.gov.kh. 2021-03-13.
  18. Web site: Bunthoeurn . Orm . 6 October 2020 . Military vehicles from China given to RCAF . 2021-03-13 . The Phnom Penh Post.
  19. Web site: Odom. Sek. 2017-03-24. South Korea Donates Vehicles, Parts to National Armed Forces. 2021-03-13. The Cambodia Daily. en-US.

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