Cambodian Forces Take Out One of Thailand’s Newly Supplied VT-4 Tanks

A Royal Thai Army VT-4 main battle tank has suffered serious damage during clashes with Cambodian forces, after the vehicle was conducting a direct fire mission against Cambodian positions in disputed border regions. The tank’s 125mm main gun reportedly ruptured, leaving the barrel shattered, with the tank’s fire control–related targeting system and its laser warning system also reported to have been damaged. Reports indicate that the crew survived unharmed. Thai forces on December 10 launched Operation Sattawa aimed at seizing a number of localities in northern Cambodia, with the VT-4 being among the assets deployed that have given the Thai Army a distinct advantage in border engagements. Cambodian forces, by contrast, rely on ageing Cold War era variants of the Soviet T-54 main battle tank which dates back in its service to the late 1940s.

The Royal Thai Army was the first operator of the VT-4, which was developed in China specifically for export. The capabilities of the tank were first displayed to the Thai Army in January 2018, with the the commander at the Royal Thai Army Cavalry Centre announcing to the press his satisfaction with the vehicle, calling it a world class advanced platform with a excellent informatisation, manoeuvrability and firepower. It was revealed at the time by Thai Army chief General Chalermchai Sitthisart that China and Thailand would jointly build a repair and maintenance centre for the VT-4 to service the platforms. Despite its impressive performance attributes, variants of the VT-4 in Thai service lack the newer GL-5 hard-kill active protection system that has more recently been integrated onto vehicles from newer production batches.