Indian Army Trained Cambodian Personnel on Dhanush Guns
The four-week training program for Royal Cambodian Army personnel concluded on October 3.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Military
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The Indian Army completed its second training program for the Royal Cambodian Army focusing on the operation and maintenance of the Dhanush artillery system. This session included six officers and 19 other ranks who traveled to India for the instruction.
Why it matters
This military cooperation suggests that Cambodia may be considering the Dhanush system for potential future acquisition. The training aligns with ongoing efforts to familiarize international partners with India's indigenous defense hardware.
The training covered the 155mm/45-calibre Dhanush towed howitzer, a design derived from the Bofors gun. The four-week course involved 25 total Cambodian personnel consisting of six officers and 19 other ranks.
The players
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land-based branch of the Indian Armed Forces and is responsible for managing indigenous artillery development programs.
Royal Cambodian Army
The Royal Cambodian Army is the ground force component of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces tasked with national defense and security operations.
The details
Cambodian military personnel received comprehensive instruction in gunnery and maintenance procedures for the Dhanush, which is developed by the Indian Ordnance Factory. This initiative follows a previous training contingent that visited India during the summer to study the same platform.
Timeline
The first contingent of Cambodian personnel completed training in August 2026.
The second training program concluded on October 3, 2026.
Political Context
This program reflects India's broader strategy to expand its defense exports by demonstrating indigenous equipment to regional partners. Critics and opposing political factions often scrutinize these defense technology transfers for their potential to alter regional power balances in Southeast Asia.
This training initiative serves as a diplomatic signal regarding future defense procurements in the region. Taxpayers and citizens may see these shifts reflected in future foreign policy decisions and government defense spending reports.
The takeaway
The successful completion of this training marks a notable advancement in security relations between the two nations. These sessions allow personnel to gain hands-on expertise with sophisticated artillery systems that could play a central role in future fleet modernization efforts.
Further reading
For more information on current defense partnerships, visit the Military section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Idrw.
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