Thailand deploys U.S.-made Stryker 8x8 armored vehicles as war with Cambodia intensifies.

The Royal Thai Army has begun using U.S.-manufactured Stryker armored vehicles in frontline operations during ongoing fighting with Cambodia along disputed border areas.

As reported by OSINTdefender on December 10, 2025, Thailand’s Royal Thai Army has deployed U.S.-made Stryker 8x8 armored vehicles in frontline operations along the Thai-Cambodian disputed border. Despite public statements from U.S. President Donald Trump that both sides had agreed in principle to halt fighting, clashes with Cambodia continue to intensify, especially near the Bueng Takwan checkpoint in Sa Kaeo province.
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Thailand's Stryker orders were placed in fiscal years 2019, 2020, and 2021 for 70, 50, and 10 vehicles, respectively, bringing the reported total to 130 Strykers at an overall program cost of about 9.1 billion baht, or roughly $282,830,000. (Picture source: X/OSINTdefender)

Thailand’s Royal Thai Army has begun deploying U.S.-made Stryker 8x8 armored vehicles in active combat as fighting with Cambodia escalates along disputed border areas, marking one of the most intense phases of the confrontation to date. Thai forces used Strykers around the Bueng Takwan checkpoint in Ta Phraya district, Sa Kaeo province, opposite the Ban Ta Phraya border trade crossing, to transport infantry, secure positions, and establish defensive control measures. By December 13, 2025, the war remained active and fluid, with continued exchanges reported along several sectors of the roughly 817 km border and with both governments issuing conflicting statements on de-escalation. Thai troops were seen raising the national flag, laying concertina wire, and holding ground with Stryker-supported infantry, underscoring that the vehicles are now employed in frontline operations. At the same time, political messaging and battlefield realities have diverged, complicating assessments of whether any reduction in hostilities is actually taking hold.

The current phase of the Thai-Cambodian war has been characterized by repeated exchanges of rockets, artillery, and mortars across multiple border points, exceeding the intensity of earlier clashes seen in July 2025. Statements by U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that Thailand and Cambodia had agreed in principle to stop shooting after high-level calls involving Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, with an effective time referenced for Friday evening. However, subsequent official communications from Bangkok and Phnom Penh did not confirm a clearly implemented ceasefire, and Thai military messaging indicated that fighting was still ongoing.

Cambodia’s leadership emphasized a desire for a peaceful resolution while calling for third-party verification of which side initiated fire, whereas Thai authorities accused Cambodia of attacks affecting civilian areas and of laying landmines along the frontier. These competing narratives unfolded alongside continued tactical engagements, and, as a result, military units on both sides have continued to posture for further contact rather than standing down. Elsewhere along the border, Thai media referred to Cambodian BM-21 rocket impacts in Sisaket province, while Cambodia, in parallel, alleged that Thai fighter jets struck targets inside Cambodian territory during the same period.

Diplomatic mechanisms intended to stabilize the border had already been weakened before the latest escalation, shaping the current trajectory of the war. A Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord signed on October 26, 2025, outlined steps such as withdrawals, monitoring arrangements, and de-mining measures aimed at reducing risks after earlier clashes. Thailand later suspended its participation following a November landmine incident that injured Thai soldiers, a decision that became a reference point in subsequent accusations and counter-accusations. As hostilities resumed, both sides framed their actions as defensive while blaming the other for violating understandings or initiating attacks. The continued deployment of armored vehicles, including Strykers, signals that Thailand is preparing for prolonged operations rather than a short-lived confrontation. Thailand’s Stryker fleet is the result of a multi-year procurement and fielding process that combined refurbished transfers, follow-on orders, and sustained training and maintenance support.

Thailand's procurement remains a little unclear, but available information details orders placed in fiscal years 2019, 2020, and 2021 for 70, 50, and 10 vehicles, respectively, bringing the reported total to 130 Strykers at an overall program cost of about 9.1 billion baht (roughly $282,830,000). Earlier program elements were linked to approval for 60 Stryker infantry carrier vehicles and associated support equipment, including M2 .50-caliber machine guns, vehicle vision and communications systems, smoke grenade launchers, spares, training, and field service support. Thai media also described an initial tranche of 37 refurbished vehicles, with additional vehicles provided to reach a 60-vehicle batch for early operational use. Deliveries were associated with Laem Chabang port and inspection processes at Saraburi prior to handover to operational units, including formations within the 11th Infantry Division based in Chachoengsao province. Training efforts included sending an initial group of around 30 Thai soldiers to the United States to qualify as drivers, mechanics, and technicians, while sustainment support involved U.S. mechanics assisting with maintenance as the fleet entered service.

The Stryker is an 8x8 wheeled armored vehicle family derived from the Canadian LAV-III, itself based on the Mowag Piranha, and produced for the U.S. Army by General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada. In the M1126 infantry carrier configuration, the same used by Thailand, the vehicle is operated by a two-person crew and can transport up to nine infantry soldiers, providing protected mobility for mechanized infantry operations. The M1126 has a length of 6.95 m, a width of 2.72 m, and a height of 2.64 m, with a combat mass in the mid-16 t range. Mobility is assured by a wheeled drivetrain capable of operating as 8x4 and shifting to full 8x8, enabling road speeds of up to about 97 km/h and an operational range of roughly 500 km. These attributes support rapid movement along extended borders and between threatened sectors, which is particularly relevant in a conflict spread across multiple flashpoints, such as the Thai-Cambodian war.

In terms of armament, Thai Strykers have been observed operating with heavy machine guns, consistent with the platform’s typical use of remote weapon stations that can mount a 12.7 mm M2 machine gun or a 40 mm Mk19 automatic grenade launcher, and in some configurations a 7.62 mm M240 machine gun. The Strykers are also equipped with smoke grenade launchers to provide rapid obscuration during contact or withdrawal. A remote weapon configuration allows the gunner to remain under armor while engaging targets, an important factor in environments where mortar and artillery fire pose constant threats. Thailand’s Strykers will be equipped with a new Battle Management System and wider C4I components, including mounted computer systems from Leonardo DRS and Systematic’s Sitaware, after a $7 million contract announced in February 2025 and an MoU signed on November 11, 2025, involving Leonardo DRS and Thai firm Chaiseri has been cited in connection with these efforts, alongside references to integrating the M153 CROWS II remote weapon station.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.