Cambodian People's Armed Forces
| Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (KPRAF) Cambodian People's Armed Forces (CPAF) |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Disbanded | 1993 (merged into the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces) |
| Service branches | Army, Navy and Air Force |
| Headquarters | Phnom Penh |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Chairman of the Council of State |
| Chief of Defense | Heng Samrin |
| Manpower | |
| Conscription | 5 years |
| Active personnel | 55,000 - 75,000 (estimate) |
| Expenditures | |
| Percent of GDP | n. a. |
| Industry | |
| Foreign suppliers |
 Soviet Union Vietnam Bulgaria
|
The Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Armed Forces, or Khmer People's Revolutionary Armed Forces, (KPRAF) were the armed forces of the People's Republic of Kampuchea, the de facto government of Cambodia 1979-1990. It was formed with military assistance from Vietnam, which furbished the fledgling armed forces with equipment and training, with the initial task of countering the sustained guerrilla campaign being waged by the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea.
The KPRAF were renamed the Cambodian People's Armed Forces (CPAF) in 1989, preserving their main structure, but changing insignias and symbols. In 1993 the CPAF were absorbed into the newly re-established Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.
The KPRAF was formed initially from militias, former Khmer Rouge members, and conscripts. Most of them were trained and supplied by the Vietnam People's Army. But due to a lack of training, weapons and mass desertions, the KPRAF was not an effective fighting force. Hence the bulk of the fighting against the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea (CGDK) forces, of which the Khmer Rouge (renamed the National Army of Democratic Kampuchea) was the main threat, was left to the Vietnamese armed forces occupying the country.
Following the Vietnamese withdrawal in 1989 and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the KPRAF were unable to continue their modest efforts against the CGDK and this in part convinced the Cambodian government to turn to the negotiating table. In 1989 began the transition that culminated in the 1991 Paris Peace Agreement. After the name of the "People's Republic of Kampuchea" had been officially changed to "State of Cambodia" (SOC), the KPRAF were renamed the "Cambodian People's Armed Forces" (CPAF). Following the 1993 elections the CPAF were absorbed into a new national army of Royalist, Nationalist and CPAF troops.
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