Thailand Confirms First-Ever JAS39 Gripen Combat Strike on Cambodian Forces Amid Escalating Armed Conflict

For the first time in the ongoing Thai-Cambodian border conflict, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has publicly confirmed the deployment of its Swedish-made JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets alongside American-built F-16A/B aircraft to conduct coordinated airstrikes against entrenched Cambodian military positions.

The strikes targeted Cambodian assets located near Phu Ma Kua and the Ta Muen Thom temple, both of which have been the focus of recent cross-border artillery and rocket attacks that have resulted in numerous civilian and military casualties.

The deployment of both Gripen and F-16 platforms in combat missions marks a significant milestone in the operational integration of Thailand’s multi-sourced fighter fleet.

The JAS-39 Gripen jets, developed by Swedish aerospace firm Saab, and the F-16s produced by U.S. defence contractor Lockheed Martin, engaged in precision bombardment missions aimed at neutralizing Cambodian rocket launchers and artillery emplacements.

“The Cambodian military had placed weapons systems at both Phu Ma Kua and the Ta Muen Thom temple to launch attacks against Thailand. The mission to destroy those hostile assets was successfully executed, and all four RTAF fighter jets safely returned to their bases,” the Royal Thai Air Force said in a formal statement.

Previously, Thai authorities had only acknowledged the use of F-16s in the escalating conflict.

The region has witnessed sustained hostilities between Thai and Cambodian forces, with both militaries alternately launching offensives and fortifying defensive positions.

Thai units have been actively engaged in operations aimed at neutralizing Cambodian military deployments along the contested frontier.

In response, Cambodia has intensified its force posture by escalating troop deployments and reinforcing its presence in the area.

The heavy fighting has remained unabated since hostilities flared on July 24.

Cambodian forces are believed to have deployed RM-70 GRAD multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) and artillery batteries at both contested locations, which were used to bombard Thai border villages, causing at least 19 deaths, including six Thai military personnel.

Phnom Penh has claimed 13 fatalities on its side, including five soldiers, allegedly resulting from Thai retaliatory strikes.

Thailand accuses Cambodia of deliberately targeting civilian areas with indiscriminate rocket fire, prompting a multidimensional military response.

 

Simultaneously, the Royal Thai Navy joined ground operations to repel multiple incursions by Cambodian troops in Trat province, a region along Thailand’s eastern frontier.

The naval operation, codenamed “Trat Pikhat Pairee 1,” was launched early on July 26 and involved at least four Royal Thai Navy warships.

Thai marines reportedly conducted successful counter-offensives, forcing Cambodian forces to retreat from three incursion points.

“Thailand stands firm in defending its sovereignty. Aggression and violations will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” the Ministry of Defence declared.

Meanwhile, Major General Duong Somneang, commander of Cambodia’s 7th Division, was confirmed killed by an artillery strike during intense ground combat at the Chong Ta Thao–Phu Ma Kua front, as skirmishes continued throughout the day.

Thai ground forces successfully held their position at Phu Ma Kua and repelled Cambodian counteroffensives with artillery and drone strikes.

Footage released by the Royal Thai Army showcased the use of domestically built armed drones, which dropped M261 and M472 mortar bombs on Cambodian military depots and artillery staging points.

The drone strikes reportedly eliminated key enemy assets, including a live and loaded RM-70 GRAD launcher ready for imminent use.

“Thai armed drones successfully identified and struck primary targets, including a major rocket storage site and a command-and-launch vehicle preparing for renewed artillery barrages,” an RTAF intelligence officer disclosed.

Regional analysts suggest the successful destruction of the Cambodian RM-70 system highlights the growing role of unmanned systems in modern Southeast Asian conflicts.

Cambodia’s RM-70 GRAD systems are known to be equipped with 9M22U/SHE-40 rockets, 122mm caliber, with a warhead weight of 18.4 kilograms and an effective range of 20 kilometers.

Designed for saturation bombardment, these unguided rockets are capable of destroying infantry fortifications, logistics hubs, and lightly armored vehicles across wide areas.

The use of Cold War-era Czech rocket artillery systems by Cambodia underscores a shift toward higher-intensity warfare along the border and a signal that Phnom Penh is prepared to escalate if needed.

Thailand’s use of advanced networked platforms like the JAS-39 Gripen and drone warfare units reflects a broader regional trend toward high-tech, integrated military responses to conventional threats.

The Royal Thai Air Force operates around 50 F-16s in multiple variants including Block 15 and Block 50/52, stationed at key bases such as Wing 1 in Nakhon Ratchasima and Wing 4 in Takhli.

These aircraft have undergone significant avionics and weapons upgrades, enabling them to deploy AIM-120 AMRAAMs, AGM-65 Mavericks, and are supported by LANTIRN targeting pods and AN/APG-68 radars.

Thailand is currently evaluating an upgrade to the F-16V Viper standard, which would introduce AESA radar (AN/APG-83), enhanced mission computers, and improved survivability systems.

Meanwhile, its fleet of 12 JAS-39C/D Gripens based at Wing 7 in Surat Thani are fully integrated with Saab’s Erieye Airborne Early Warning system and C2 (Command & Control) nodes, forming a robust network-centric combat architecture.

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