List of equipment of the Royal Cambodian Army

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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[edit]

Sidearms[edit]

Name Origin Type Calibre Notes
CF98[3][4]  China Semi-automatic pistol 9x19mm Parabellum Standard issue.
Type 54[5][6] 7.62x25mm Tokarev Limited use. Inherited from the KPRAF.
Tokarev[5][6]  Soviet Union
Makarov[5][6] 9×18mm Makarov

Personal defence weapon[edit]

Name Origin Type Calibre Notes
Type 85  China Submachine gun 7.62×25mm Tokarev Used by Special Forces Command.
Daewoo K-7  South Korea 9×19mm Parabellum
Mini Uzi  Israel Standard issue.
MP5  West Germany Limited use. Used by Special Forces Command.

Infantry rifles[edit]

Name Origin Type Calibre Notes
Type 56[5][6]  China Assault rifle 7.62×39mm Standard issue.
Type 81-1[5][6]  China
K1A[7]  Republic of Korea Carbine 5.56x45mm NATO Used by Special Forces Command.
K2C[7]
QBZ-97  China
SKS[5][6]  Soviet Union Semi-automatic rifle 7.62×39mm Limited use. Inherited from the KPRAF.
AK-47[5][6] Assault rifle
AKM[5][6]
M16A1[5][8][9]  United States 5.56x45mm NATO
Pindad SS1  Indonesia

Precision Rifles[edit]

Name Origin Type Calibre Notes
Type 79[5][6]  China
 Soviet Union
Sniper rifle 7.62×54mmR Norinco-made copy of the SVD, known as the Type 79. Used by Special Forces Command. Inherited from the KPRAF.
QBU-10  China Sniper rifle 12.7×108mm Used by Special Forces Command from 2019.
QBU-88  China Sniper rifle 5.8×42mm Used by Royal Gendarmerie
Accuracy International AWM  United Kingdom
 Australia
Sniper rifle .338 Lapua Magnum

Machine Guns[edit]

Name Origin Type Calibre Notes
RPD[5][6]  Soviet Union Light machine gun 7.62×39mm Standard Issue. Inherited from the KPRAF.
RPK[5][6]
QBB-95  China 5.56×45mm NATO
PKM[5][6]  Soviet Union
 Russia
General-purpose machine gun 7.62×54mmR
M84[5][6]  Yugoslavia
DShK[5][6]  Soviet Union Heavy machine gun 12.7×108mm
W85[10]  China Standard Issue.
QJZ-89[5][6]

Grenade launchers[edit]

Name Origin Type Calibre Notes
M79[5][6]  United States Grenade launcher 40×46mm Limited use. Inherited from the KPRAF.
M203[5][6]
QLU-11  China 40x53mm Used by Special Forces Special Forces Command and other Command

Anti-tank missiles and armored vehicles[edit]

Name Origin Type Calibre Notes
RPG-2[5][6]  Soviet Union Rocket-propelled grenade 82mm Standard issue. Inherited from the KPRAF.
RPG-7[5][6] 85mm
Type 69[5][6]  China Standard issue.
PF-89[11] Anti-tank rocket launcher 80mm Limited use.
Armbrust[5][6]  West Germany Recoilless rifle 67mm Used by Special Forces Command.
M20[12]  United States 75mm Limited use. Inherited from the KPRAF.
B-10[12]  Soviet Union 82mm In active service. Inherited from the KPRAF.
Milan  France
 Germany
Anti-tank guided missile 115mm Used by Special Forces Command.
Metis-M1  Russia 130mm This weapon was recently acquired from Russia.

Man-portable air defense systems[edit]

Name Origin Type Quantity Notes
9K32M Strela-2M  Soviet Union Man-portable air defense system 233[13] Status unknown. Inherited from the KPRAF.
HN-5  China 70[13] Status unknown.

50 HN-5 20 HN-5A

FN-6 210 FN-6FN-16
QW-3 460+ Cambodia just bought this weapon from China in 2022

Artillery[edit]

Field artillery[edit]

Name Origin Type Calibre Quantity Notes
ZiS-3[12]  Soviet Union Anti-tank gun 76mm 100 In active service. Inherited from the KPRAF.
M101  United States Howitzer 105mm ~30[13] In ceremonial use. Inherited from the KPRAF.
M-30  Soviet Union 122mm 50[13] In active service. Inherited from the KPRAF.
D-30 120[13]
M-46 130mm 50[13]
Type 66  China 152mm 80[13] In active service. Donated by China.[13]

Self-propelled artillery[edit]

Name Origin Type Calibre Quantity Notes
PCL-09  China Self-propelled artillery 155mm 30+[13] In active service.

30+ SH-1. From China.[13]

Rocket artillery[edit]

Name Origin Type Calibre Quantity Notes
BM-13  Soviet Union Multiple rocket launcher 132mm Unknown Status unknown. Inherited from the KPRAF.
BM-14 140mm Unknown
BM-21-1 122mm 200 In active service.

180 BM-21-1. Former KPRAF.

10 BM-21-1. Probably from Vietnam.

20 BM-21-1. From the Seychelles.[13]

Type 81  China 112 In active service.

12 Type-90B. From China.

RM-70  Czechoslovakia 125[13] In active service.

5 RM-70. From Slovakia. 120 RM-70. From the Czech Republic.[13]

PHL-03  China 300mm[13] 40+ In active service.

40+ PHL-03. From China

Air defense system[edit]

Name Origin Type Calibre Quantity Notes
ZPU  Soviet Union Autocannon 14.5mm The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) still has other air defense systems that cannot be demonstrated.
ZU-23-2 23mm
61-K 37mm
S-60 57mm
9K32M Strela-2M  Soviet Union Man-portable air defense system 233[13] Status unknown. Inherited from the KPRAF.
HN-5  China 70[13] Status unknown.

50 HN-5 20 HN-5A

FN-6 210 FN-6FN-16
QW-3 460+ Cambodia just bought this weapon from China in 2022
HQ-12 Surface-to-air missile 400mm 4 batteries KS-1C+ from China

Vehicles[edit]

Main battle tanks[edit]

Name Origin Type Quantity Notes
T-54-2  Soviet Union Main battle tank 10[13] In active service. Inherited from the KPRAF.[13]
T-55A 290[13] In active service.

115 T-55A. Inherited from the KPRAF.

60 T-55A. From Serbia.

100 T-55A. From Ukraine.[13]

T-55AM1  Czechoslovakia  Polish People's Republic 100[13] In active service.

40 T-55AM1. From the Czech Republic

50 T-55AM1. From Poland.[13]

Type 59  China
 Soviet Union
74[13][14] Type 59 is a version of the T-54A manufactured in China with Soviet assistance. In active service. Donated by China.[14]

Light tanks[edit]

Name Origin Type Quantity Notes
Type 62  China Light tank 100[13] Status unknown. Inherited from the KPRAF.[13]
Type 63 Amphibious light tank 20[12] Status unknown. Inherited from the KPRAF.[13]
PT-76  Soviet Union 50[13] In active service.

25 PT-76 Mod. 1956. Inherited from the KPRAF.

25 PT-76 Mod. 1957. Inherited from the KPRAF.[13]

Infantry fighting vehicles[edit]

Name Origin Type Quantity Notes
BMP-1  Soviet Union Infantry fighting vehicle 100[13] In active service.

30 BMP-1. Former KPRAF.

8 BVP-1. From Slovakia.

61 BMP-1. From the Czech Republic.[13]

Armoured personnel carriers[edit]

Name Origin Type Quantity Notes
BTR-60PB  Soviet Union Armored personnel carrier 164[13] In active service.

40 BTR-60PB. Former KPRAF.

40 BTR-60PB. From the Czech Republic.

40 BTR-60PB. From Ukraine.[13]

44 units purchased from Russia in 2013

BB-60  Cambodia 5+[14] Made in Cambodia
Type 63  China 50[14] In active service. Donated by China.[14]
ZFB-05 Unknown[14] In active service. from China.
Pindad Anoa  Indonesia Unknown Imported from Indonesia.[15]
OT-64 SKOT  Czechoslovakia 55+ All the OT-64 APCs have apparently gone to the Phnom Penh reserve force and some are used by military police.

Armoured reconnaissance vehicles[edit]

Name Origin Type Quantity Notes
BRDM-2  Soviet Union Amphibious armored reconnaissance vehicle 300[13] In active service with the Royal Gendarmerie of Cambodia and Personal Bodyguard Headquarters but maintained by Royal Cambodian Army.

196 BRDM-2. Inherited from the KPRAF.

4 BRDM-2. From Bulgaria.[13]

Armoured engineering vehicles[edit]

Name Origin Type Quantity Notes
BTS-2[citation needed]  Soviet Union Armoured recovery vehicle In active service. Inherited from the KPRAF.
BAT-M[citation needed] Obstacle removing vehicle Status unknown. Inherited from the KPRAF.
BTM-3[citation needed] Trench digging vehicle
PMP[citation needed] Mobile pontoon bridge

Transports[edit]

Name Origin Type Quantity Notes
Cargo trucks
ZIL-157[citation needed]  Soviet Union Cargo truck Unknown Possibly retired. Former KPRAF.
ZIL-130
ZIL-131 Standard truck of the RCA. Some possess KUNG shelters.Being replaced by Dongfeng trucks.
GAZ-66 Standard truck of the RCA. Being replaced by Dongfeng trucks.
KamAZ-43114[16]  Russia Used by border units and units sent on UN peacekeeping operations.
Dongfeng EQ2081  China
Dongfeng CLW525502N
Dongfeng DWEQ2090GS[citation needed] 26
Dongfeng EQ2070G[citation needed] Unknown Standard truck of the RCA.
Dongfeng EQ2162GS[17] >227 Standard truck of the RCA. Received from China as a donation in 2010, but unknown quantities have been donated over the years.
Hongyan Genpaw[18] 183 Purchased using private funds. Split between the military, law enforcement and bodyguard unit (BHQ).
Hongyan Genlyon[18] 107
GMC M35A2[citation needed]  United States >60 There is more than 60 examples in service with the RCA as they also come from former FANK stocks.
Renault TRM 2000[citation needed]  France Unknown Status unknown
Mercedes-Benz Unimog U5000[citation needed]  Germany Possibly on order
Mercedes-Benz Zetros[citation needed]
KIA K511[citation needed]  Republic of Korea 200 Includes dump truck variant.
KIA KM450[citation needed] Light cargo truck Unknown Widespread usage within the RCA. Standard vehicle in the Royal Cambodian Navy (RCN).
Hyundai Mighty Widespread usage within the RCA. Acquired from the civilian market.
Hyundai Mighty II
Tractor units
AT-T  Soviet Union Artillery tractor Unknown Possibly retired. Last spotted at Pochentong Air Base.
MAZ-537[citation needed] Tank transporter Status unknown. Used during the Cambodian-Thai border dispute to transport T-55s to Preah Vihear. Possibly sourced from Serbia.
ZIL-130V1[19] Tractor unit Possibly retired. Used during the 1997 Cambodian coup d'état.
Sinotruk HOWO A7  China Standard tractor unit of the RCA.
Scania R500[20]  Sweden Spotted during the Cambodian-Thai border dispute being used transport T-55s from Sihanoukville to Preah Vihear.
Mercedes-Benz Arocs[citation needed]  Germany Possibly on order
Engineering and support vehicles
PTS-2[citation needed]  Soviet Union Tracked amphibious transport Unknown The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) has further modernized this vehicle, equipping it with the FN-16 low-altitude air defense system.
Shacman L3000[21]  China Tanker truck 290 Used for transporting soldiers and other military equipment.
XCMG wheel loader Engineering vehicle unknown
XCMG backhoe loader Engineering vehicle unknown
XCMG excavator Engineering vehicle unknown
XCMG XJY240WQ Engineering vehicle unknown
XCMG XJY240Z Engineering vehicle unknown
Iveco VM 90[citation needed]  China
 Italy
Multirole truck Unknown Chinese licensed production version. Comes in engineering workshop variant and ambulance variant. Mainly used by BHQ but is also present in the RCA.
UAZ-452A  Soviet Union Ambulance Used as an ambulance
Light utility vehicles
UAZ-469  Soviet Union Light utility vehicle Unknown Possibly retired. Former KPRAF.
storm wheeled Light 4x4  China Used by BHQ and RAC
Beijing BJ2022 Received as part of various donations of trucks to the RCA.
Beijing BJ80[22]
Dongfeng EQ2050[22] Some are equipped with QJZ-89 heavy machine guns.
M151 ¼-ton 4×4  United States From former FANK stocks. Used during military parades.
SOVAMAG TC10 DT[citation needed]  France Used by cadet officers and by SF-911.
Land Rover Wolf[citation needed]  United Kingdom Status unknown
KIA KM131[23]  Republic of Korea Widespread usage within the RCA. Examples used by SF-911 are equipped with PKM or Type 80 GPMGs.[citation needed]
Ford Raptor  United States Standard pickup trucks of the RCA. Acquired from the civilian market.
Toyota Hilux  Japan

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Cambodian PM orders armed forces not to use U.S. made military equipment". Xinhua News Agency. 10 December 2021.
  2. ^ Dara, Mech (10 December 2021). "Hun Sen Orders American-Made Weapons Destroyed, 'Thanks' US for Arms Embargo". VOD.
  3. ^ "왕립 캄보디아군 VOL.1" [Royal Cambodian Army Vol.1]. kjclub.com (in Korean). Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  4. ^ Bolding, Damon (29 April 2014). "PLA Infantry Weapons: Small Arms of the World's Largest Army". Small Arms Defense Journal. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (27 January 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Wille, Christina (2006), How Many Weapons are there in Cambodia? (PDF), Small Arms Survey, archived from the original (PDF) on 26 December 2010
  7. ^ a b Picard, Michael; Holtom, Paul; Mangan, Fiona (2019). Trade Update 2019. Transfers, Transparency, and South-east Asia Spotlight (PDF). Small Arms Survey. ISBN 978-2-940548-75-0. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  8. ^ Berrigan, Frida; Ciarrocca, Michelle (November 2000). "Report: Profiling the Small Arms Industry – World Policy Institute – Research Project". World Policy Institute. Archived from the original on 13 December 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  9. ^ Pear, Robert; Times, Special To the New York (1 January 1990). "CAMBODIA ASSERTS U.S. GUERRILLA TIES". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  10. ^ "W85式/QJC88式高射机枪" (in Chinese). firearmsworld.net. 3 February 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  11. ^ Coatepeque (25 October 2009). "China Defense Blog: Cambodia's Chinese Weapon on Parade". China Defense Blog. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  12. ^ a b c d "Cambodian army land ground forces military equipment and armoured vehicle pictures". armyrecognition.com.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  14. ^ a b c d e f Chhengpor, Aun (17 March 2018). "Cambodia-China Joint Army Drill Kicks Off, As US Military Relations Cool". VOA. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  15. ^ Wareza, Monica. "Pindad Produksi 400 Juta Peluru, Sebagian Diekspor ke Myanmar". CNBC Indonesia (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  16. ^ "Military stand-off on Laos border. - Page 2 - Cambodia Expats Online: Forum | News | Information | Blog". cambodiaexpatsonline.com. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  17. ^ China Gives 257 Military Trucks to Cambodia (Cambodia news in Khmer), retrieved 13 March 2021
  18. ^ a b "Purchase of military trucks not from national budget: PM". Khmer Times. 22 June 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  19. ^ Cambodia - Fighting continues, retrieved 13 March 2021
  20. ^ "Editorials on Cambodia:: Soviet-made T-55 tank is unloaded at Preah Sihanouk port - Cambodian Information Center". editorials.cambodia.org. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  21. ^ "Handover Ceremony of 10 Oil Tanker Trucks". akp.gov.kh. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  22. ^ a b Bunthoeurn, Orm (6 October 2020). "Military vehicles from China given to RCAF". The Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  23. ^ Odom, Sek (24 March 2017). "South Korea Donates Vehicles, Parts to National Armed Forces". The Cambodia Daily. Retrieved 13 March 2021.