The Royal Cambodian Navy has received its first modern surface combatant, with reports that a Chinese-built Type 056C Jiangdao-class corvette had arrived at Ream Naval Base on 4 April.
Citing naval sources, The National Thailand newspaper reported that the vessel underwent an official handover to the Cambodian navy on 8 April. The second vessel is expected to be delivered in June this year.
Beijing announced in 2024 that it would donate two Type 056C corvettes to Cambodia, as part of efforts to strengthen the maritime capabilities of its Southeast Asian partner, whose fleet currently consists largely of patrol craft.
China has also financed upgrades to Ream Naval Base, which reopened in April 2025 as a facility capable of supporting both Cambodian and Chinese naval operations.
Imagery of the vessel bearing pennant number ‘622’ shows it armed with an H/PJ-26 76mm main gun and two H/PJ-17 30mm close-in weapon systems. However, anti-ship missile launchers were not visible in the photos.
Elsewhere in Southeast Asia, Thailand has confirmed it will proceed with a new frigate acquisition programme aimed at modernising the Royal Thai Navy’s (RTN) surface fleet.
Bangkok has stipulated that bids must include an industrial offset package worth at least 20% to support domestic defence and shipbuilding capabilities.
According to the RTN, eleven international shipbuilders have expressed interest: Damen; Navantia; Fincantieri; Turkey’s TAIS Shipyards and ASFAT; ST Engineering Marine; South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean, SK Oceanplant and Hyundai Heavy Industries; China Shipbuilding Trading Co; and Russia’s Rosoboronexport.
In parallel, eight Thai companies – including Marsun Shipyard – have formed a consortium and signed a memorandum of understanding to pursue large shipbuilding projects, with an eye on the frigate programme.
The RTN currently operates a mixed frigate fleet comprising the Chinese-built Chao Phraya class, the modernised Naresuan class and a single Bhumibol Adulyadej-class frigate. The latter was designed and built by South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (now Hanwha Ocean).
by Chen Chuanren
