Cambodia receives first Type 056C missile corvette from China at Ream Naval Base.

Cambodia has received its first Chinese-built Type 056C missile corvette at Ream Naval Base, marking a significant upgrade in the Royal Cambodian Navy’s maritime combat capability.

Delivered by China and formally transferred on April 8, 2026, the vessel introduces missile-capable surface warfare potential, shifting Cambodia from a patrol-focused fleet toward integrated naval combat operations in coastal waters. The corvette, hull number 622, arrived on April 4, 2026, fully crewed, completing the first phase of a two-ship grant announced in 2024, with a second unit due in June. This delivery, following the reopening of Ream Naval Base after Chinese-funded expansion, enhances Cambodia’s operational readiness and strengthens its ability to conduct deterrence, maritime security, and coordinated naval operations in the Gulf of Thailand.

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The arrival of the Type 056C corvette represents a structural break in the Royal Cambodian Navy’s capabilities, as it introduces the country’s first modern surface combatant able to carry missiles and multi-domain sensors. (Picture source: Weibo/@洋务先驱张之洞)

On April 4, 2026, Cambodia received its first Chinese-built Type 056C corvette at Ream Naval Base, with the vessel arriving fully crewed and formally transferred to the Royal Cambodian Navy on April 8, completing the first phase of a two-ship grant announced by Beijing in 2024. The second corvette is scheduled for delivery in June 2026 and was assessed at roughly 70% completion at the time of the first unit’s arrival, following an acceptance inspection conducted in October 2025 that included Cambodian defense officials. The transfer follows the reopening of Ream Naval Base in April 2025 after Chinese-funded expansion works that increased berth capacity and support infrastructure.

Prior to this delivery, Cambodia’s navy operated primarily small patrol crafts, limiting its ability to conduct layered maritime defense. The arrival of hull number 622 introduces the first class of modern vessels equipped with missiles into the Cambodian Navy fleet, two years after the announcement. China's delivery consists of two Type 056C corvettes transferred as grant aid, not as a commercial purchase, and forms part of a broader China–Cambodia defense cooperation arrangement that includes infrastructure development and operational integration. Each vessel is designed for a crew complement of about 60 personnel, requiring Cambodia to expand its training, maintenance, and command systems to support a ship class not previously operated.

The Type 056 corvettes, sometimes classified as frigates, were produced between 2012 and 2016 across multiple Chinese shipyards, including Hudong-Zhonghua, Huangpu Wenchong, and Wuchang facilities, with at least 22 units entering Chinese naval service before later transfers to the China Coast Guard. Export derivatives include the C13B variant supplied to Bangladesh in four units and the P18N variant supplied to Nigeria in two units. The delivery also represents a transition from a patrol-based fleet to one incorporating combatant ships with integrated sensors and weapons. This shift will introduce new operational requirements in logistics, spare parts supply, and technical personnel.

The Type 056C has a full load displacement between 1,300 and 1,500 tons, a length of 88.9 meters, a beam of 11.1 meters, and a draft close to 4 meters, positioning it between offshore patrol vessels and frigates in size. The propulsion system consists of two SEMT Pielstick 16 PA6-STC diesel engines producing about 6,900 horsepower each, for a combined output nearing 13,800 horsepower and driving two shafts. This provides a maximum speed of 25 knots and a cruising endurance of about 3,500 nautical miles at 16 knots, which is sufficient for operations within the Gulf of Thailand and adjacent waters but limits extended deployments. The ship includes a flight deck capable of supporting one medium helicopter, such as the Harbin Z-9, but the absence of a hangar restricts maintenance and long-duration aviation operations.

Sensor systems include a Type 364 air and surface search radar, a Type 347G fire control radar for the main gun, and a bow-mounted sonar for basic anti-submarine detection. These systems are linked through a ZKJ-5 combat data system that provides target tracking and fire control integration for near-shore operations. The armament observed on the Cambodian unit includes one H/PJ-26 76mm dual-purpose gun mounted on the bow and two H/PJ-17 30mm remote-controlled weapon systems for close-in defense, providing engagement capability against small surface targets and low-flying threats at short range. Standard Type 056 loadouts include four YJ-83 anti-ship missiles arranged in two twin launchers, each missile having a range between 150 and 180 km and designed for sea-skimming attack profiles, as well as one HHQ-10 short-range air defense system with eight missiles for point defense against incoming threats.

Additionally, two triple 324mm torpedo tubes are typically fitted for launching Yu-7 lightweight torpedoes, providing a limited anti-submarine warfare capability. These missile and torpedo systems were not visible on hull 622 at the time of delivery, indicating either that they were removed prior to transfer, are pending installation, or were excluded from the export configuration. For now, the absence of YJ-83 missiles eliminates the vessel’s ability to conduct long-range anti-ship strikes, while the absence of HHQ-10 reduces its defensive coverage against aerial threats beyond gun range, unless additional systems are installed later. The Type 056C's operational requirements prioritize littoral missions such as patrol, escort, maritime security enforcement, and limited anti-surface warfare within coastal zones.

With a range of 3,500 nautical miles and no onboard hangar, the Type 056C corvette is not configured for sustained blue-water operations or extended deployments without external support. Its sensor suite provides basic detection and tracking but lacks the depth and redundancy of larger combatants equipped with area air defense systems or advanced sonar arrays. The ship is therefore suited to operations within Cambodia’s exclusive economic zone, including fisheries protection, convoy escort, and presence missions. However, the limited weapon configuration observed reduces the Cambodian Type 056C's deterrence value against higher-end naval threats.

The vessel’s effectiveness is therefore tied to the threat environment, as well as the availability of supporting assets and naval bases such as Ream. Ream Naval Base serves as the primary support facility for these vessels and underwent significant upgrades before reopening in April 2025, including the construction of expanded piers, maintenance areas, and logistics infrastructure capable of supporting ships in the corvette and frigate size range. The base is located on Cambodia’s southern coast along the Gulf of Thailand, providing direct access to regional sea lanes and proximity to the South China Sea.

The upgraded facilities enable refueling, maintenance, and resupply operations that were previously limited in Cambodia’s naval infrastructure. The base is designed to support sustained naval operations rather than short-duration patrols, introducing the potential for access by Chinese naval units, although operational arrangements are not publicly defined. The integration of ship delivery and base expansion indicates a coordinated approach to capability development, as the base effectively functions as the operational hub for Cambodia’s emerging surface combatant force.

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.