Thailand’s renewed armed clashes with neighboring Cambodia have highlighted a clear military imbalance between the two countries, with Thailand enjoying a decisive advantage on land, in the air and at sea—an edge largely attributed to its extensive use of advanced weapons systems supplied by Israel, according to an analysis published by Haaretz.
The fighting, which stems from a long-running border dispute, has underscored how Thailand’s sustained investment in modern military technology has translated into battlefield superiority. Israeli defense industries have emerged as key suppliers to Thailand’s armed forces, providing everything from small arms and drones to missile systems and artillery, alongside equipment sourced from Western and Chinese manufacturers.
Only last week, the Thai Air Force announced its decision to purchase a battery of MX anti-aircraft missiles produced by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), adding to a growing inventory of Israeli-made air defense systems. As Haaretz reported, this purchase is part of a broader pattern in which Israel has become one of Thailand’s most important defense partners across all branches of its military.
Thailand’s army, navy and air force rely heavily on Israeli technology. Its fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles is largely based on drones manufactured by Elbit Systems and Aeronautics, a company owned by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. On the ground, the Thai army operates Israeli-made artillery and precision rocket systems from Elbit, as well as anti-tank missiles produced by Rafael. Thai forces also use a wide range of Israeli small arms, including Tavor assault rifles, Galil ACE rifles, Galil sniper rifles and Negev machine guns.
Defense ties between Thailand and Israel go beyond procurement. According to Haaretz, Israel’s defense companies maintain close cooperation with Thailand’s Defense Technology Institute (DTI). Five years ago, Thailand purchased Rafael’s Spike-MR anti-tank missiles, which have an effective range of 2.5 kilometers. In 2023, DTI signed a contract with Rafael allowing the local production of Spike NLOS missiles in Thailand. These advanced non-line-of-sight missiles can strike targets at distances of up to 30 kilometers.
Collaboration with Elbit has also enabled Thailand to develop indigenous capabilities. The Thai Defense Technology Institute recently delivered the army’s first locally produced rocket launcher, developed jointly with Elbit and based on its PULS system. A similar partnership produced truck-mounted artillery systems derived from Elbit’s Atmos 2000 guns, significantly improving the mobility and firepower of Thai ground forces.
The technological gap between Thailand and Cambodia is especially evident in the air. Cambodia’s air force is limited to transport aircraft and helicopters, while Thailand operates combat aircraft such as U.S.-made F-16A/B fighter jets and Sweden’s Saab Gripen (JAS-39). Although no longer considered cutting-edge, these aircraft provide capabilities Cambodia cannot match. The Gripen jets used by Thailand are equipped with Rafael-made “Lightning” targeting pods, which support precision strike and advanced navigation.
Thailand also benefits from sophisticated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems. As Haaretz noted, Thai F-16s have conducted strikes on Cambodian rocket launchers using U.S.-made, laser-guided munitions, guided by superior battlefield intelligence. These capabilities allow Thai forces to detect, track and engage targets more effectively than their Cambodian counterparts.
Air defense represents another area of stark contrast. Thailand fields a layered air defense network that includes systems purchased from Israel, France, Britain and China. Cambodia, by comparison, relies largely on older shoulder-launched missiles and anti-aircraft guns. While Cambodia has recently acquired four HQ-12 air defense batteries from China, these systems remain limited compared to Thailand’s broader and more integrated defenses.
Differences are also apparent in armored warfare. Cambodia’s army depends mainly on aging Soviet-era tanks and older Chinese models. Thailand, meanwhile, has acquired more advanced platforms over the years, including Ukrainian T-84 Oplot tanks, American-made Commando Stingray light tanks, and modern Chinese tanks. Thailand has also upgraded its older M60 tanks with fire-control systems supplied by Elbit. In addition, Thai forces possess American Javelin anti-tank missiles, similar in role to Israel’s Spike system and proven effective in recent conflicts such as the war in Ukraine.
Thailand’s aerial dominance has been further strengthened by its growing drone fleet. In 2022, the Royal Thai Navy purchased seven Hermes 900 drones from Elbit in a $120 million deal, replacing the older Hermes 450 models acquired in 2018. The Hermes 900 offers longer endurance, greater range and nearly double the payload capacity, making it a key asset for long-range surveillance and strike missions.
Beyond the Hermes platform, Thailand’s air force operates several Israeli-made drones from Aeronautics, including the Orbiter 11, which can conduct reconnaissance, laser target designation and electronic warfare, and the larger Aerostar system. In 2023, Thailand received its first Dominator XP drone, capable of flying for up to 20 hours with a payload ten times larger than that of the Aerostar. Last September, the Royal Thai Air Force also announced plans to acquire 26 Lizard 3 laser guidance kits from Elbit, which convert unguided bombs into precision-guided munitions.
Despite Israel’s strong position, Haaretz noted that China remains Israel’s main competitor in the Thai arms market. Thailand has purchased VT-4 tanks from China’s Norinco, FK-3 surface-to-air missile systems, and in 2017 signed a $424 million deal for a Chinese-made Yuan-class submarine. Cooperation with China also extends to drone development, with Thailand’s Defense Technology Institute working alongside a Chinese firm to develop a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone that could rival Israeli models.
Overall, the analysis by Haaretz suggests that Thailand’s extensive investment in Israeli weapons and defense technology has played a significant role in shaping the current balance of power with Cambodia, reinforcing Thailand’s military superiority across multiple domains as tensions along the border flare once again.
