Vantor imagery shows Chinese and Cambodian Type 056A corvettes at Ream Naval Base. The probable Cambodian Navy improved Type 056A is 5 m longer than the PLAN hulls. Dressing lines suggest a ceremonial occasion such as official delivery. (Satellite image © 2026 Vantor/© 2026 Janes)
Recent satellite imagery suggests that the Chinese-built Type 056 corvette recently delivered to Cambodia is among the largest variants of the series observed to date, a development likely to enhance the Royal Cambodian Navy's ability to conduct extended maritime patrols and other naval operations.
Imagery analysis indicates that the newly arrived corvette at Ream Naval Base has an estimated hull length of around 95 m. This is about 5 m longer than the standard Type 056 and Type 056A variants, which are typically reported as measuring between 88–90 m.
This would make the Cambodian vessel one of the largest Type 056‑series ships identified, exceeded only by the sole Chinese‑built Type 056-derived El Moutassadi-class ship operated by Algeria, and on par with the Centenary-class frigate operated by Nigeria.
By contrast, all People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Type 056 and Type 056A corvettes, as well as the export variants operated by Bangladesh, conform to standard hull dimensions associated with the Jiangdao class.
Historical satellite imagery indicates that the Cambodian vessel likely arrived at Ream Naval Base on 4 April.
Imagery from 8 April shows the ship displaying ‘dressing lines' along its superstructure, a traditional signal-flag arrangement associated with commissioning, handover or other formal naval events.
The presence of these dressing lines strongly supports the assessment that this vessel is being inducted into Cambodian service rather than one of the two Type 056A corvettes that have been observed at Ream since 2023.
Satellite imagery also enables an assessment of the vessel's probable weapons and mission fit.
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