Cambodia Receives First Type 056 Corvette From China

ACCORDING to reports from Cambodia and the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), Cambodia has received its first Type 056 guided-missile corvette provided as a grant by China. This vessel is the first of two that China reportedly gifted to the Royal Cambodian Navy (RCN) in late 2024.

The RTN reported that the vessel docked on April 4 at Pier 1 of Ream Naval Base with its full crew on board while Cambodian media reported that “Cambodia this week received a new modern warship, a Type 056C corvette, marking a significant step in strengthening the Kingdom’s maritime defence capabilities.” In April, Cambodia launched the expanded Ream Naval Base, developed with Chinese assistance, which has drawn attention from the United States and other countries over concerns about potential Chinese military presence.

Chinese reports state that the independently developed and produced Type 056 corvettes were designed to replace the People’s Liberation Army’s Navy (PLAN) outdated Type 037 corvette in coastal defence missions and come in two variations, namely the Type 056 and the Type 056A. However there is reportedly around six slightly different configurations including the anti-submarine warfare-capable (ASW) Type 056A. China built a total of 72 Type 056 series corvettes from 2012 to 2019 with at least 20 units being transferred to the China Coast Guard in 2022.

With a displacement of only 1,300 tons, the original Type 056 was said to be equipped with a 76mm rapid-fire gun, two 30mm guns, two double-barrel YJ-83 anti-ship missile (ASM) launchers, two triple-barrel torpedo launchers, and an eight-barrel HQ-10A air defence missile system. Besides that, it has a flight deck that can accommodate a small-medium sized helicopter.

Deputy commander of the RCN Vice Admiral Sam Sokha said the acquisition will further strengthen Cambodia’s naval capabilities. Last October, Cambodian general Tea Banh visited the shipyard where the vessels were being built. Thai reports stated that delivery of the second vessel is still underway with progress reported at around 70%. It is expected to be handed over in June 2026.

Cambodia’s government has also increased defence spending, approving a record draft national budget for 2026 exceeding US$10 billion, a 7.8% increase from the 2025 budget of US$9.32B and a greater focus on defence. Defence spending in 2025 stood at around US$730 million.

Earlier this week, Cambodia hosted a detachment of the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet at the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, a detachment comprising Steregushchy-class corvettes RFS Sovershenny and RFS Rezky from Apr 6-8. The Russian ambassador to Cambodia said joint drills with Cambodia could be considered in the future.–-shp/adj/dl (Pix:TEA BANH, GLOBAL TIMES)