Royal Cambodian Armed Forces

The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (កងយោធពលខេមរភូមិន្ទ, RCAF) is Cambodia's national military force. The Supreme Commander-in-Chief is King Norodom Sihamoni. Since 2018, General Vong Pisen has been the Commander-in-Chief of the RCAF as head of the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Gendarmerie.[1][2] The armed forces operate under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Defence. Under the country's constitution, the RCAF is charged with protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Cambodia.[3]

Royal Cambodian Armed Forces
កងយោធពលខេមរភូមិន្ទ
Emblem of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces
Mottoជាតិ សាសនា ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ
(Nation Religion King)
Founded9 November 1953 (original)
(69 years ago)
Current form24 September 1993
(29 years ago)
Service branchesRoyal Cambodian Gendarmerie
Royal Cambodian Army
Royal Cambodian Navy
Royal Cambodian Air Force
HeadquartersPhnom Penh, Cambodia
Leadership
Supreme CommanderKing Norodom Sihamoni
Prime Minister Hun Sen
Commander-in-ChiefVong Pisen
Minister of National DefenceTea Banh
Chief of DefenseHun Manet
Personnel
Active personnel110,000
Expenditures
Budget$662 Million
Industry
Foreign suppliers China
 Poland
 Russia
 Ukraine
 South Korea
 Czech Republic
Related articles
HistoryMilitary history of Cambodia
RanksMilitary ranks of the RCAF

It was created in 1993 by a merger of the Cambodian People's Armed Forces (CPAF) and the National Army of Democratic Kampuchea (NADK) which included the Khmer Rouge, the Khmer People's National Liberation Front (KPNLF) and the National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative Cambodia (Front uni national pour un Cambodge indépendant, neutre, pacifique, et coopératif, FUNCINPEC). The forerunner of the CPAF was the Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (KPRAF), established in 1979 with support from the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN).[4]

The Royal Cambodian Army (RCA) is the largest RCAF branch, with troops stationed in each of the country's 25 provinces. The Royal Cambodian Navy (RCN), the second-largest branch and operates in the Gulf of Thailand, along the Mekong and Bassac rivers and in the Tonlé Sap lake. The Royal Cambodian Air Force (RCAF), the smallest service branch with 5,000 members, operates in every province which has an airport.[5]

History

Royal Khmer Armed Forces (FARK)
Main article: Khmer National Armed Forces § History

Khmer National Armed Forces (FANK)
Main article: Khmer National Armed Forces § History

Revolutionary Army of Kampuchea (RAK)
Main article: Kampuchea Revolutionary Army § History

Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (KPRAF)
Main article: Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Armed Forces § Historical background

Cambodian People's Armed Forces (CPAF)
Main article: Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Armed Forces § Historical background

Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF)

The RCAF was established in 1993 after the democratic election of a government consisting of two prime ministers. The armed forces of all parties except the NADK were integrated into a national armed force.

To resolve security problems, the government began a "Win-Win policy" in mid-1995 of national reconciliation and unity efforts under the Monarchy of Cambodia. Defections of NADK units began in early 1996 up until the death of Pol Pot in 1998.

See also

References
  1. "New Commander-in-Chief for RCAF". KHMER TIMES. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  2. "Three top military commanders appointed as senior ministers". The Phnom Penh Post. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  3. "Hun Manet is now a four-star General". The Phnom Penh Post. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  4. "VGP News | National historical relic inaugurated in Đồng Nai – National historical relic inaugurated in Dong Nai". 2 January 2012.
  5. Ian Ramage, Strong Fighting: Sexual Behavior and HIV/AIDS in the Cambodian Uniformed Services, 2002

Further reading
  • Dylan Hendrickson, 'Cambodia's security-sector reforms: limits of a downsizing strategy,' Conflict, Security, and Development, Volume 1, Issue 1.
  • Gerald Segal and Mats Berdal, 'The Cambodia Dilemma,' Jane's Intelligence Review, March 1993, p. 131-2. Includes listing of formations and equipment of the various factions.
  • Robert Karniol, 'Confined to local waters,' Naval Forces Update, Jane's Defence Weekly, 20 June 1992, p. 1097. Status of Cambodian navy.
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