Thailand denies F-16 shootdown amid Cambodia border airstrikes

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has denied claims by Cambodian media that one of its F-16 fighter jets was shot down during airstrikes on July 24, 2025, amid the most serious clashes between the two countries in over a decade. 

Six Thai F-16s conduct airstrikes in Cambodia 

Six F-16 Fighting Falcons from Ubon Ratchathani Air Base were deployed on the morning of July 24, 2025, to strike Cambodian military positions near the disputed Ta Muen Thom temple complex following intense ground clashes and rocket attacks. According to Thai military sources, the mission involved precision strikes on two Cambodian positions in the Chong An Ma sector. 

Shortly after the airstrikes, Cambodian state media and local outlets claimed that one F-16 had been downed by Cambodian air defense systems at around 10:58 local time. The alleged shootdown, if confirmed, would have represented the first combat loss of a Thai fighter jet in decades. 

Thai authorities strongly refuted the Cambodian claims. The Royal Thai Air Force stated that all six aircraft completed their missions and returned safely to base.  

“Reports suggesting a Thai fighter jet was shot down are completely false,” the RTAF said in a statement carried by Thai outlets Thairath and Manager Online. Officials described the shootdown claim as “fake news” intended to distort the situation. 

Air power joins the border conflict 

The use of F-16s signals a major escalation in the decades-old border dispute, which had previously been limited to artillery exchanges, ground skirmishes, and limited drone use. Thursday’s sorties mark the first time in years that the RTAF has employed fighter jets in a cross-border strike mission. 

According to Thai defense officials, the strikes targeted Cambodian artillery and rocket positions after BM-21 Grad rockets allegedly hit Thai territory, killing at least one civilian and wounding several others. Phnom Penh, however, accused Bangkok of initiating the escalation by using combat aircraft and vowed to defend its sovereignty. 

The Royal Thai Air Force operates a mixed fighter fleet consisting primarily of around 35 F-16 Fighting Falcons (A/B and C/D variants, many upgraded under the Mid-Life Update program), 7 Saab JAS 39C/D Gripens based at Surat Thani Air Base, and a contingent of about 30 Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II aircraft upgraded to the F-5TH “Super Tigris” standard.  

Cambodia does not operate a modern air force but possesses Soviet-era man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) and radar-guided anti-aircraft guns.  

If the situation escalates further and RTAF Gripens are deployed, it will mark their first combat engagement in Thai service, and one of the first for the Gripen globally. The post Thailand denies F-16 shootdown amid Cambodia border airstrikes appeared first on AeroTime.

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