When a Made in China Rocket Launcher Kills Soldiers on the Front Lines in Cambodia
Overview of Incidents
A critical examination of Chinese military hardware reliability and safety has been prompted by tragic incidents on the Cambodian-Thai border. On December 25, 2025, eight Cambodian soldiers died when a Chinese-made PHL-81 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) exploded during active operations. This event, along with reports of similar failures involving Chinese-made Type-90B 122mm rocket artillery, raises significant questions about the quality control and performance of ‘Made in China’ armaments under combat conditions. These are not isolated incidents, indicating a growing global concern among nations relying on Chinese military technology.
Cambodian Border Incidents
The escalating border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand has served as a testing ground for these equipment failures.
- December 25, 2025: A PHL-81 MLRS exploded during heavy artillery exchanges, with frontline video and reports suggesting a catastrophic failure in the launch mechanism.
- December 18, 2025 onwards: Reports detailed at least five separate incidents involving Chinese-made Type-90B 122mm rocket artillery systems operated by Cambodian forces. These systems either exploded or rolled over after multiple automatic fires.
- Total Casualties: Across these malfunctions, eight Cambodian soldiers lost their lives.
Investigation into Failures
Military analysts are intensely scrutinizing the root causes of these failures, with prevailing assessments pointing to fundamental issues in the design and manufacturing quality of Chinese-made armaments.
Quality Concerns
- Type-90B 122mm Rocket Artillery: Specific concerns include the “overheating of low-quality metal used to manufacture Type 90B 122mm rockets.”
- “Cook-off” Malfunction: Disturbing footage often depicts “premature detonation” that violently snaps the launcher vertically, triggering multiple internal explosions. This suggests systemic vulnerabilities in the manufacturing process rather than isolated defects.
- Origin of Type-90B: The Type-90B 122mm is a NORINCO-manufactured MLRS, a reverse-engineered version of the Soviet-era BM-21 Grad system. Questions arise about whether adequate design improvements or stringent quality control were implemented during its Chinese production.
- Historical Precedent: These events echo similar concerns from earlier in 2025, when Chinese-made weapon systems supplied to Pakistan reportedly experienced failures during the India-Pakistan war. This consistent pattern under combat stress questions the overall reliability of ‘Made in China’ armaments at their operational limits.
Broader Implications for Global Defense
- Erosion of Confidence: These incidents gravely threaten to erode international confidence in China’s defense industry, especially as China aggressively expands its global arms export influence.
- Procurement Dilemma: Developing nations, often attracted by the competitive pricing of Chinese weaponry, face a stark choice between potential cost savings and compromised safety and operational reliability.
- Fundamental Reliance: The effectiveness of any military hinges on its equipment performing flawlessly under extreme pressure. When equipment designed for protection becomes deadly to operators, it necessitates a profound reassessment of procurement strategies and quality assurance standards globally.
- Future Procurement: The intense scrutiny of these “Made in China” equipment failures will undeniably shape future military procurement decisions worldwide.
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