According to The Bangkok Insight on July 24, 2025, T-84 Oplot-M main battle tanks of the Royal Thai Army opened fire on Cambodian military positions near Wat Kaeo Siharatsavararam, close to the Preah Vihear area, also referred to as Khao Phra Wihan. This action was reportedly followed by the advance of Thai infantry units to secure control of the area, which includes elevated and strategically significant ground near the Preah Vihear temple, which both countries claim as part of their national territory. While similar incidents have occurred in previous years, this could be the first known use of T-84 Oplot-M tanks in a direct combat involvement by Thailand.
Several pro-government sources and Thai defense commentators, including Sompong Nondhasa, described the engagement as an operation to retake lost territory. While the deployment of the tanks has been confirmed by multiple Thai outlets, independent confirmation of these claims remains pending. The 2025 Thai-Cambodian armed confrontation near Preah Vihear originated from a resurgence of longstanding tensions over sovereignty claims in the border region surrounding the Preah Vihear temple. For both Thailand and Cambodia, the Preah Vihear Temple serves as an emblem of national heritage and historical sovereignty, deeply rooted in cultural identity for both nations.
Although the International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia, both countries have continued to dispute control of the adjacent territory, particularly a 4.6 square kilometer area near the temple. These tensions have previously led to military clashes, including deadly skirmishes in 2008 and 2011. In mid-July 2025, a series of troop movements and border fortifications by both sides intensified the situation, with Thai and Cambodian forces reportedly accusing each other of incursions and violations of the ceasefire line. The immediate trigger for the July 24 engagement remains unclear, but sources report that Thai forces initiated direct attacks against Cambodian military positions located near Wat Kaeo Siharatsavararam, in close proximity to the Preah Vihear site. The lack of a mutually recognized demarcation in this area, combined with rising political pressures and the symbolic significance of the location, contributed to the collapse of previous de-escalation mechanisms and the outbreak of armed conflict.
The T-84 Oplot is a Ukrainian main battle tank based on the diesel-powered T-80UD, developed after Soviet efforts to transition from gas-turbine to diesel propulsion in the 1970s and 1980s. After the Soviet Union dissolved, the Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau continued developing prototypes, including Ob. 478D, Ob. 478DU, and Ob. 478DU9, which evolved into the T-84 and BM Oplot. Ukraine’s production faced delays and material shortages, notably after access to Russian-made ceramic armor modules ceased. This led to alternative composite solutions using rubber and alloy layers. The first prototypes entered Ukrainian service in 1999, and the Oplot-M, also known as Object 478DU9-1, was introduced as the most advanced configuration. Variants include the T-84-120 Yatagan with NATO compatibility, and the BM Oplot-T exported to Thailand. In 2011, Thailand ordered 49 Oplot-T tanks for 7.155 billion baht (approximately $200 million). Final delivery was completed in 2018 after delays caused by the Ukrainian conflict.
The Oplot-M weighs 51 tonnes, has a length of 7.075 meters, a width of 3.4 meters, and a height of 2.8 meters. It is equipped with either a KMDB 6TD-2E engine producing 1,200 hp or a KMDB 6TD-4 engine rated at 1,500 hp, resulting in a power-to-weight ratio of up to 30 hp/tonne. It can reach a top road speed of 70 km/h and has an operational range of 500 kilometers. The tank uses torsion bar suspension with hydraulic dampers on the 1st, 2nd, and 6th road wheel stations. Its deep fording capability reaches up to five meters using dedicated equipment. It includes a diesel-electric auxiliary power unit and supports diesel, gasoline, or aviation fuel mixtures. The navigation system, TIUS-NM, integrates GPS and GLONASS to assist in terrain navigation, target orientation, and coordination with other friendly units through digital channels.
The tank’s armament includes a 125 mm KBA-3 smoothbore cannon with 46 rounds, supported by a KT-7.62 coaxial machine gun (1,250 rounds) and a KT-12.7 remote-controlled anti-aircraft machine gun (450 rounds). The main gun uses an automatic loader capable of handling APFSDS, HEAT, HE-FRAG, and Kombat laser-guided ATGMs. Dispersion is rated at 0.2 mils. The autoloader carries 28 ready rounds and uses a dual-feed mechanism. The gun can engage targets up to 5,000 meters, including moving armored vehicles and helicopters. The system’s fire preparation time is 10–12 seconds when stationary and 10–15 seconds while moving. The fire-control suite includes a 1G46M gunner’s sight with 2.7–12× magnification, PTT-2 thermal sight with detection up to 12,000 meters, and the PNK-6 panoramic commander’s sight with independent stabilization, thermal channels, and a 9,500-meter laser rangefinder. The tank also features a LIO-V ballistic computer connected to various sensors, including wind, cant, tank speed, and muzzle reference systems.
The Oplot-M’s protection systems combine passive, reactive, and active layers. Base armor includes electro-slag remelted steel with layers of ceramic and aramid-fiber composite. Duplet ERA modules are mounted across the turret, hull front, and sides, offering protection against APFSDS, HEAT, and tandem-charge warheads. The system tolerates extreme temperatures (−50 to +55°C) and humidity up to 100%. The Varta optronic countermeasure suite includes laser warning receivers, infrared jammers, and smoke grenade launchers (GD-1), capable of interfering with SACLOS and laser-guided weapons. Sensors cover 360° with reaction times as fast as 0.15 seconds. The GD-1 grenades create multi-spectral smoke within one second and persist for at least 60 seconds. The OTSHU-1-7 system further disrupts missile guidance by emitting strong IR signals. Varta components operate in automatic, semi-automatic, or manual modes. The tank is also fitted with overpressure-type NBC protection and internal spall liners. It can withstand 10 kg TNT blasts under the tracks and 4 kg under the driver’s compartment.
The commander’s PNK-6 system enables target acquisition, fire control, and coordination in hunter-killer roles. It supports the firing of all onboard weapons and provides full situational awareness under varied conditions. The tank’s communication suite includes R-030-U and R-163-50K radios and can be adapted for foreign systems. The fire-control system integrates day and thermal sights with computer-guided stabilization for high first-round hit probability. Heat-induced barrel distortions are mitigated by thermal sleeves and sensors at the muzzle. The tank can also be fitted with mine-clearing attachments. Ammunition selection, barrel wear, and atmospheric data are manually or automatically input into the TIUS-VM fire control computer, which calculates corrected firing solutions. Target tracking systems and identification measures reduce the chance of friendly fire.
Thailand’s 49 Oplot-T tanks are deployed across four cavalry battalions, stationed at Fort Chakrabongse (2nd Battalion), Kiakkai (4th Battalion), Fort Suranari (8th Battalion), and Fort Ekathotsarot (9th Battalion). While the Royal Thai Army was expected to abandon the Oplot program in 2017 due to delays, all tanks were delivered as per the March 2018 announcement by Ukroboronprom. The tanks feature subsystems from European manufacturers: Thales supplied the thermal sights and internal communications; FN Herstal provided machine guns; navigation components came from LITEF (Germany); and weather sensors were supplied by IRDAM (Switzerland). The modular design of the tank allows integration with various foreign components and adaptation to diverse operational environments. Tests conducted in Turkey, Malaysia, and Greece demonstrated operational performance in different climates and terrains.
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