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Topic: Air Warfare Blog Brand: The Buzz Region: Asia Tags: Aircraft, Cambodia, F-16 Fighting Falcon, Fighter Jets, Southeast Asia, and Thailand US Jets vs. Chinese Rockets: Thailand and Cambodia Are Back at War December 10, 2025 By: Stavros Atlamazoglou
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Royal Thai Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets have been pounding targets in Cambodia after tensions between the two countries escalated into a small-scale conflict.
Tensions between two neighboring countries in Southeast Asia are putting the F-16 Fighting Falcon into action.
A diplomatic solution brokered by the United States between the two countries fell through, and fighting has broken out.
F-16 Fighting Falcons in Action
F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets of the Royal Thai Air Force have been pounding targets in Cambodia after tensions between the two countries escalated into a small-scale conflict.
According to a statement, the Royal Thai Air Force struck military targets in Cambodia along the border with Thailand. In light of the developments, the Cambodian military has mobilized its forces and heavy weapon systems, including artillery and rocket artillery systems. Thai F-16s have been focusing on these weapon systems, as well as other military targets of opportunity. The Thai fighter jets have been mainly using Mk 82 bombs with precision-guided glide navigation systems.
During one strike, Thai F-16s struck a casino that was repurposed by the Cambodian military as a command and control center and armory.
Interestingly, the US-made Thai F-16s are facing Chinese- and Russian-made heavy weapon systems on the battlefield. For example, the Cambodian military is using a number of Chinese PHL-03 multiple launch rocket systems and Russian BM-21 rocket launchers. Conflicts and incidents like the one underway in Southeast Asia offer a rare opportunity for US-made weaponry to go up against that of its near-peer adversaries.
The Royal Thai Air Force operates approximately 50 F-16 Fighting Falcons. The fighter jets, however, are of older versions, with 36 F-16A (single-seat) and 14 F-16B (two-seat) in use. In total, Thailand has received 52 F-16s from the United States (in four separate installments) and seven aircraft from nearby Singapore. Despite their age, these fighter jets are pioneering Thailand’s military response, showcasing the F-16’s enduring attributes.
In addition to the F-16, the Royal Thai Air Force operates a small number of JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets. Specifically, the Southeast Asian country flies seven JAS 39C and four JAS 39D jets. But the service expects to upgrade its fleet of Swedish-made fighter jets with the addition of the JAS 39E Gripen.
About the F-16 Fighting Falcon
Introduced in the 1970s, the F-16 Fighting Falcon has been a mainstay in combat aviation since then. The F-16 has been one of the main fighter jets of the US Air Force for decades.
- Year Introduced: 1978
- Number Built: ~4,600+
- Length: 49 ft 5 in (15.06 m)
- Wingspan: 32 ft 8 in (9.96 m)
- Weight (MTOW): ~42,300 lbs. (19,187 kg)
- Engines: One F100 or F110 turbofan (23,770–29,000 lbf. thrust)
- Top Speed: ~1,500 mph (Mach 2.0)
- Range: Combat radius ~340–500 mi; ferry range ~2,200+ mi
- Service Ceiling: ~50,000 ft (15,200 m)
- Loadout: 9 hardpoints; ~17,000 lb. payload
- Aircrew: 1 (or 2 for B/D variants)
The most advanced version of the F-16 is the Viper. Also, the F-16 is one of the most popular fighter jets in the world, with over 2,000 currently operational in nearly 30 countries. This is the second active war zone that the F-16 is currently fighting in, after the war in Ukraine.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: DVIDS.
The post US Jets vs. Chinese Rockets: Thailand and Cambodia Are Back at War appeared first on The National Interest.
Источник: nationalinterest.org