Cambodian Army tests the newly acquired RM-70 Czech-made 122 MLRS

In December 2013, Army of Cambodia has performed a live fire exercise to test the capacity of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces in defending territorial integrity, an army chief said. During the drill, Cambodian soldiers have fired with BM-21 and for the first time with the new RM-70 122mm MLRS Multiple Launch Rocket System.

General. Pol Saroeun, commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, said that the military forces of Cambodia perform for the first time live fire exercises with the newly acquired RM-70. "The purpose of the exercise is to strengthen the capacity for our armed forces in defending our territorial integrity and national interest only," he told reporters at the event. "The drill is also to test our new weapons."About 145 shells had been fired and all had hit the target in the distance between 20 km and 40 km, he said.

It was the third time that the country held live fire drill with BM-21 rocket launcher vehicle. The first one was made in March 2010 and the second was in April 2013..Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh was also present at this exercise of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, to see the new Czech-made RM-70 in real combat condition.Cambodia has begun to strengthen its defense capacity since it had territorial dispute with Thailand in 2008. The dispute had triggered several times of deadly armed clashes between troops of the two countries.