Thai Gripen, F-16 Fighter Jets Strike Cambodian Military Targets as Border Fighting Escalates

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) confirmed that its JAS 39 Gripen multirole fighter jets carried out a precision airstrike against the Lim Heng Casino in Cambodia’s O’Smach area, directly opposite Chong Chom in Surin Province, after intelligence assessments concluded that the facility had been militarised by Cambodian forces.

According to Thai authorities, the Gripen released high-explosive munitions on the casino complex, located at 14°25’58.9″N 103°42’00.7″E, which had allegedly been repurposed as a launch site for kamikaze drones, a concealment area for BM-21 multiple rocket launcher vehicles, and a troop concentration and staging point near the border.

The use of the Gripen underscores the RTAF’s reliance on the Swedish-built fighter as a frontline precision-strike and air-defence platform, particularly in border contingencies requiring rapid response, network-centric operations, and operations from austere or short runways.

Thailand operates the JAS 39C/D Gripen from Wing 7 at Surat Thani Air Base, where the aircraft form the backbone of the RTAF’s modern air combat capability, integrated with Saab’s Erieye airborne early-warning and control system and advanced datalink architecture.

Designed for high sortie rates, dispersed basing, and precision engagement, the Gripen fleet has been central to Thailand’s air sovereignty mission, especially in scenarios requiring accurate strikes with minimal collateral damage near sensitive border areas.

 In August, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has received Cabinet approval for the acquisition of four Saab JAS 39 Gripen E/F multirole fighter jets from Sweden, marking a critical step in modernising Thailand’s combat air fleet amid recent operational deployments near the Cambodian frontier.

Currently, the RTAF operates a fleet of 11 Gripen C/D aircraft at Wing 7 in Surat Thani, though one aircraft was lost during an airshow accident, leaving 10 in service.

Thailand was the first operator in Asia to adopt the Gripen platform, following a USD 1.1 billion (approximately RM5.2 billion) procurement in 2008 that included 12 fighters and associated surveillance capabilities.

Since then, the RTAF has remained a flagship customer for Saab in the Asia-Pacific region, which is increasingly being targeted by global aerospace firms due to its growing appetite for advanced multirole fighters.

With this latest procurement, Thailand is set to become the first Southeast Asian air force to field the next-generation Gripen E/F variant, a major upgrade over its predecessor and a potent force multiplier in regional air combat dynamics.

At the core of the Gripen E is the Leonardo UK-developed Raven ES-05 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, which provides wide-angle scanning, simultaneous tracking of over 20 targets, and high resistance to electronic jamming.

This radar capability enables the Gripen E to detect, engage, and track stealth platforms and high-value threats across varying altitudes and ranges, rivalling systems typically reserved for fifth-generation fighters.

The aircraft’s survivability is further enhanced by the Skyward-G Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system, which allows passive detection of aerial threats without emitting radar signals, offering a decisive edge when engaging radar-evading aircraft such as the F-35.

In terms of lethality, the Gripen E is configured to carry the MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), widely regarded as the most advanced BVR missile in service globally.

With a strike envelope exceeding 200 kilometres and powered by a ramjet propulsion system, the Meteor enables the RTAF to adopt a “first detect, first engage, first kill” doctrine with unmatched confidence.

The aircraft is also compatible with a full suite of Western munitions, including the IRIS-T short-range AAM, GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs, RBS-15 anti-ship cruise missiles, and a variety of reconnaissance, jamming, and targeting pods for multi-domain missions.

From a performance perspective, the Gripen E has a maximum takeoff weight of 16.5 tonnes, a top speed of Mach 2, and a combat radius of approximately 1,500 kilometres with external fuel tanks—providing the RTAF with ample reach across strategic zones such as the South China Sea, the Andaman Sea, and the Gulf of Thailand.

Following the Gripen strike, RTAF F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducted follow-on air attack missions against Cambodian military targets in Udon Meanchey Province, widening the scope of Thailand’s aerial response.

Thai military sources stated that the F-16s dropped GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs on BM-21 rocket launcher positions and heavy-weapons storage sites near Samrong, with the strikes triggering sustained and powerful secondary explosions.

The GBU-12 Paveway II is a 500-pound class laser-guided bomb designed for high-precision strikes against hardened or point targets while limiting collateral damage in complex battlefield environments.

Widely used by NATO and allied air forces, it combines a guidance kit with conventional Mk-82 warheads, allowing aircraft such as the F-16 to engage time-sensitive targets with high accuracy when supported by laser designation.

The Royal Thai Air Force said the targeted facilities were used to store heavy weapons that had previously been employed in attacks against Thai territory, with the magnitude of the explosions indicating the destruction of sizeable ammunition stockpiles.

 

Later on Tuesday evening, Thai officials confirmed that additional F-16 sorties struck Cambodian troop positions near Chong Bok in Ubon Ratchathani Province after Cambodian forces fired heavy weapons at Thai soldiers deployed along the border.

The F-16s involved form part of Thailand’s largest and most battle-proven combat aircraft fleet, comprising multiple variants operated primarily from Wing 1 at Korat Air Base and Wing 4 at Takhli.

Thailand began acquiring the F-16 in the late 1980s, and the aircraft have since undergone multiple upgrade programmes to extend their service life, improve avionics, and ensure compatibility with modern precision-guided munitions and targeting pods.

Equipped with advanced radar, precision strike weapons such as the GBU-12, and a wide range of air-to-air missiles, the F-16 remains the RTAF’s primary multirole workhorse for sustained operations, high-tempo strike missions, and force projection.

The coordinated employment of Gripens and F-16s highlights the RTAF’s layered airpower doctrine, leveraging the Gripen’s sensor fusion and rapid-response capabilities alongside the F-16’s payload capacity, endurance, and battlefield familiarity.

Thai defence analysts note that the dual-fleet approach allows the RTAF to tailor its air operations according to mission requirements, combining precision, persistence, and firepower while maintaining air superiority and deterrence along Thailand’s borders.

Amid escalating tensions, Cambodian military units were observed on Tuesday night moving T-55 tanks toward frontline areas in Banteay Meanchey Province, which borders Thailand’s Sa Kaeo Province.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, in a Facebook post, stated that Thailand’s position remained unchanged, adding that there would be no ceasefire at this stage.

The Second Army Region of Thailand reported that between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Cambodian forces launched intensive attacks across multiple fronts along the border.

According to the statement, Cambodian units fired approximately 125 salvos from BM-21 multiple rocket launchers, amounting to an estimated 5,000 rockets, and deployed 33 suicide FPV drones.

The attacks targeted Thai military bases and fortified positions in Chong An Ma and Chong Bok in Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thiang Ta Mok in Sisaket Province, and Chong Kana near Ta Kwai Temple in Surin Province.

The BM-21 Grad is a Soviet-designed 122mm multiple rocket launcher system capable of saturating wide target areas with unguided rockets in a short period of time, making it effective for area suppression and psychological impact.

Mounted on a truck chassis and operated by a small crew, it remains widely used due to its mobility, simplicity, and ability to deliver massed firepower at ranges of up to 20–40 kilometres depending on rocket type.

Thai forces responded proportionally using appropriate weapon systems, the Second Army Region said, adding that skirmishes were continuing along the entire deployment line.

An operational summary released by the Army Region 2 Operations Center confirmed that the fighting had expanded in intensity during the same period, with multiple BM-21 rocket salvos and drone strikes hitting Thai positions across several sectors.

The clashes resulted in the deaths of four Thai soldiers, with 68 others wounded, while Cambodian forces were reported to have suffered 61 fatalities, with the number of wounded still under assessment.

“Army Region 2 will implement all measures necessary to ensure national security and fully safeguard Thailand’s sovereignty,” the statement said.

Separately, Task Force 11 of the Burapha Force under the Royal Thai Army’s 1st Army Region launched a ground operation and secured partial control of the Ban Khlong Phaeng area in Ta Phraya District, Sa Kaeo Province.

Following the operation, Thai troops deployed concertina wire to reinforce the perimeter of the secured zone.

As part of the same operation, Task Force 11 employed a T-84 Oplot tank to destroy a casino complex opposite a commercial area in Ta Phraya District, which Thai authorities said had been used by Cambodian forces as a base for indirect-fire weapons, machine-gun positions, and weapons storage used in attacks on Thai civilians and soldiers.

Thailand operates 49 Ukrainian-built T-84 Oplot-T main battle tanks, acquired under an armoured modernisation programme to replace ageing Cold War-era platforms in frontline units.

The fleet equips elite Royal Thai Army armoured formations, providing advanced fire-control systems, improved protection, and enhanced mobility for high-intensity conventional and border-security operations.

Meanwhile, Thai military sources reported the death of General To Jin Chan, deputy commander of Cambodia’s BHQ troops, during frontline fighting on December 8.

According to reports from the December 9 border confrontation, personnel from the BHQ—an elite unit directly under Cambodia’s Commander-in-Chief and known for its secrecy and combat capability—were among those killed, with engagements reported in Chom Krasan District, Preah Vihear Province.

Four BHQ personnel were confirmed dead in the clashes: Lt. Gen. Jin Jon, Maj. Gen. Youn Seung, Maj. Cham Rithy, and Maj. Heng Kom San.

Sar Sophik, Director of Cambodia’s Fresh News, later posted a tribute on Facebook, expressing condolences and praising the fallen officers as national heroes.

In his message, he stated that Lt. Gen. Jin Jon, head of the BHQ unit, had died defending the nation’s dignity, adding that the fallen commanders would be remembered for their service and sacrifice.

Cambodia’s BHQ troops are an elite military formation operating under the direct authority of the country’s top command structure, widely regarded as one of the most capable and tightly controlled units within the Cambodian armed forces.

 Known for their secrecy and political influence, BHQ personnel are typically deployed in sensitive security operations and high-risk combat missions.

The unit is believed to be better trained and equipped than conventional Cambodian army formations, making its involvement in frontline clashes strategically significant. — DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA