«Данное сообщение (материал) создано и (или) распространено иностранным средством массовой информации, выполняющим функции иностранного агента, и (или) российским юридическим лицом, выполняющим функции иностранного агента»
Topic: Air Warfare Blog Brand: The Buzz Region: Asia Tags: Air Defense, Barak-MX, Cambodia, China, Israel, Southeast Asia, and Thailand The Real Reason Thailand Bought Israel’s Barak MX Air Defense System December 12, 2025 By: Brandon J. Weichert
Share
Thailand’s military is far stronger than Cambodia’s. So why has Cambodia repeatedly picked fights with its neighbor that it is sure to lose?
Hostilities between Thailand and Cambodia have once again erupted. Thailand claimed that Cambodia broke the ceasefire, and they destroyed some border outposts as a result. Thailand’s government went on to declare that all previous ceasefires were null and void as a result of what they perceived to be Cambodia’s breaking of those ceasefires brokered earlier this fall between the two warring sides, with input from the US government.
Just days before the fighting restarted, Thailand announced it was purchasing the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Barak MX air defense system. This comes on the heels of a series of major modernization pushes and new weapons acquisitions by Thailand over the last several years and months. It is more than likely that the Royal Thai Air Force which is purchasing these Israeli systems wants to overmatch whatever the Cambodians can threaten Thailand’s border regions with.
And the recent incident along the Thai-Cambodian border that resulted in the restoration of fighting between the two neighbors is just another example of why Thailand purchased these Israeli systems to begin with.
What Is Israel’s Barak MX Air Defense System Good For?
IAI’s Barak MX air defense system is believed to offer greater protection against Tactical Ballistic Missiles (TBM) and Air Breathing Targets (ABT), including drones, cruise missiles, and fighters. In total, the Israel-Thailand deal is believed to be worth $108 million.
For comparison, Cambodia employs many Chinese-made systems, such as the PHL-03 missile system and the Chinese-produced KS-1C (or HQ-12) medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. Cambodia is also believed to possess six PHL-03 multiple rocket launcher systems. This is a truck-mounted, self-propelled system with 300mm rockets. These rockets are believed to be able to reach up to 130 kilometers with upgraded systems going as far as 160 km. The KS-1C is developed by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) and designed to target aircraft, helicopters, drones, and possibly even cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. It has a canister launch and phased array radar.
One of the reasons that the Thai military wanted the Barak MX was due to its high mobility. Thailand has a dynamic environment it must defend in multiple zones. Mountainous, rugged, and smothered by a thick jungle canopy, with its neighbors—both Cambodia and Myanmar—hostile toward Thailand, the Thai military requires reliability and mobility for its air defense systems.
According to its official specifications, the Barak MX is modular in its design and is meant to integrate with other systems to ensure expanded defense. It can fire three separate missile types—the Barak MRAD, LRAD, and ER—to respond to a variety of threats. The Israelis have equipped this system with a high-end advanced multi-mission radar for detection and fire control in any condition. There’s also a “Launch on Remote” (LOR) capability.
China Wants to Dominate Southeast Asia. Thailand Won’t Allow It.
Thailand’s military capabilities already far outstrip those of Cambodia. It is shocking that the Cambodians are even willing to risk war with their more powerful neighbor. The United States, too, is backing Thailand’s play, while the Chinese, who funded Cambodia’s major naval facility along the coast of the Gulf of Thailand—Ream Naval Base—have dreams of reaping the benefits from using the Cambodians to dominate the Gulf of Thailand.
But Thailand will never allow for this to occur. It’s a geopolitical pipe dream. In the meanwhile, Thailand and Cambodia are destined for war. But, for now, Thailand has the decisive upper hand.
Their acquisition of new IAI Barak MX air defense systems will only augment that military dominance by providing advanced, comprehensive air defense for their country—notably along their borders with Cambodia, which has already demonstrated an unbelievable willingness to threaten Thailand from those regions.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert is a senior national security editor at The National Interest. Recently, Weichert became the host of The National Security Hour on America Outloud News and iHeartRadio, where he discusses national security policy every Wednesday at 8pm Eastern. Weichert hosts a companion book talk series on Rumble entitled “National Security Talk.” He is also a contributor at Popular Mechanics and has consulted regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including The Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, and the Asia Times. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Altosvic.
The post The Real Reason Thailand Bought Israel’s Barak MX Air Defense System appeared first on The National Interest.
Источник: nationalinterest.org