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The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is using South Korean-made KGGB (Korean GPS-Guided Bomb) in its attacks on Cambodia.
The air force has been leading Thai military operations against the Cambodian military since the start of the clashes along the disputed border between the two countries on July 24. RTAF fighter jets have so far carried out several waves of airstrikes against a wide range of targets in Cambodia, including command headquarters and indirect fire weapons.
The use of the KGGB by the RTAF was confirmed on July 26, when a photo showing one such bomb loaded onto a Thai F-16 fighter jet surfaced online.
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The KGGB is a precision-guided glide bomb kit, typically attached to an American-made MK-82 conventional general-purpose bomb with a total weight of 316 kg.
The bomb is guided via a GPS-aided inertial navigation system with a circular error probable close to four meters. Its range is reported to be between 85-103 kilometers, depending on the altitude and the speed of the carrier fighter jet at the time of its release.
The equipment of the RTAF includes at least 11 modern Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets and dozens of older American-made F-16 and F-5 fighter jets. On the other side, Cambodia has no combat-capable air force.
In 2022, it was reported that Thailand purchased at least 20 KGGB kits from South Korea. This small stockpile is sufficient for a few days of low-level operations, at best. It is very possible, however, that the RTAF received more kits after the initial deal.
The clashes broke out between Thailand and Cambodia following two mine blasts that wounded a number of Thai troops. The clashes have so far claimed the lives of more than 30 people. With both sides pushing reinforcements, the clashes could soon escalate into a full-blown war.
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