Thailand announced on December 8, 2025, that Cambodian forces may use Chinese-made Type-90B 122 mm and PHL-03 300 mm multiple launch rocket systems into Thai border areas, according to Reuters.
On 18 December 2025, a Chinese-made Type-90B 122 mm exploded after multiple automatic fires by the Cambodian Army.
The Type 90B 122mm is a Soviet-era reverse-engineered NORINCO-manufactured Type 90B (PHL-90B) multiple launch rocket system multiple launch rocket system (MLRS), a truck-mounted artillery system designed for mobile fire support, firing up to 40 unguided rockets at targets within 20km range, used by Peru, Cambodia, and other nations. Even the chassis and Truck are reverse-engineered Mercedes-Benz trucks.
Type 90B 122mm is based on the Soviet Union’s 122mm rockets known as the BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher system, which fires unguided, 122mm rockets (like the M-21-OF) for area saturation, becoming a ubiquitous Cold War weapon system.
On 15 December 2025, a photo released by the Thai Army shows the VT-4 main battle tank turret exploding after sustained fire at the Cambodian border.
In remarks addressing reports about the incident, Col. Richa Suksuwanont, deputy spokesperson for the Royal Thai Army, said the event did occur and that the tank sustained damage after its main gun was fired repeatedly during ongoing operations.
“Regarding the case of a Thai VT-4 tank experiencing an accident in which firing caused the gun barrel to burst, it did occur,” Col. Richa said. “The tank has damage. As for the cause, it cannot yet be specified and is currently under technical examination.”
According to information published by Reuters on December 8, 2025, the Thai government confirmed that Cambodian forces employed Chinese-made multiple launch rocket systems, specifically the Type-90B 122 mm MLRS and the PHL-03 300 mm MLRS, to fire artillery rockets into several border areas within Thailand amid escalating tensions along the disputed frontier.
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