A new facility to support the British Army’s Ajax programme is under construction at Warminster Garrison, according to a press release from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).
The £17 million project, being delivered by Aspire Defence, will provide a state-of-the-art synthetic training facility for Ajax regiments based on Salisbury Plain, with completion expected in autumn 2025.
The facility will house advanced driver, gunnery, and crew trainers, enabling military personnel to undergo ‘real-world’ training for the operation of Ajax vehicles.
The Ajax programme is set to deliver a family of tracked, all-terrain, digitally-enabled vehicles equipped with a range of weapons and sensors, bringing transformational capabilities to the British Army. The facility at Warminster Garrison is a key part of this programme, providing critical infrastructure for training.
Brigadier Pete Quaite OBE, Head of Infra Plans, expressed optimism about the project’s progress, stating: “The Warminster Garrison Ajax facility is progressing at an impressive pace and will deliver a critical capability to the army. This project demonstrates the significant investment underway across our estate to modernise our training infrastructure and deliver benefits for our people.”
The internal fit-out of the 226-tonne steel superstructure is currently underway, with the installation of the Ajax simulation capability scheduled for next year.
Colonel Jamie Hayward, Armoured Cavalry Programme Director, highlighted the importance of this facility in reducing running costs and wear on the platform: “This new infrastructure is a vital component of the Ajax programme. It allows the appropriate technical solution to train our Service Personnel and enables a reduction in running costs, platform wear and dependence on live training areas.”
Warren Webster, Director of Army Major Programmes and Projects at DIO, commended the collaboration between the project team and Aspire Defence, saying: “Continued collaboration between our project team and Aspire Defence will ensure that construction remains on track, to meet the infrastructure requirements of the Army’s Armoured Cavalry programme.”
This facility is part of a wider infrastructure effort for the Ajax programme, with similar developments already completed at Tidworth Garrison and Bulford Camp on Salisbury Plain Training Area, and Bovington in Dorset, where the Ajax simulation capability is currently being installed.
Allan Thomson, Chief Executive of Aspire Defence Ltd, expressed pride in delivering the project, stating: “We are proud to be delivering this project for DIO to support the British Army, which showcases Aspire Defence’s ability to successfully deliver quality infrastructure on behalf of the Ministry of Defence and the army. This first-rate facility supports the contemporary vision of training that’s in keeping with the modern army and its readiness for today’s challenges.”
Too large. Undergunned for the modern age; never mind the gun being overly complicated and the ammunition expensive. How much of that electronic equipment will FFBNW?
Please explain Stephanie, what you mean by “undergunned”? I believe in sheer kinetic energy, the CT40 APFSDS round is about 50% more powerful than a 30mm AP round. Bearing in mind it is a RECCE platform, it’s not designed to go toe to toe with other, heavier armour unless that is the only way out. Also, what electronic equipment do you expect to FFBNW? The AJAX has Thales Catherine MP thermal imagers (fitted), an HD colour TV based video system (fitted) acoustic sensors (fitted), radiation detectors (fitted), HCDR comms (fitted), a state of the art Fire Control System (fitted).
Cheers
Oh! And screen washers too!
Tea maker ?
Well, BV is definitely fitted!🤣
Now now you have left out the BV😂
Not designed to take on heavier armour, but that famous video from last year where a Bradly solo’d and beat a T-72 head-to-head would indicatate recce vehicles can hold their own with the right crew!
And that was with a 30mm Bushmaster, a load of attitude and balls of steel!
Thought M2 Bradley IFV and M3 Bradley CFV had a 25 mm M242 Chain Gun?
Fitted? How many of these platforms have been built? All of them? 50% of them? So how can you say ‘fitted’ so glibly? A 40 tonne vehicle with the same pressure signature as a Chally 2 may have no choice but to fight its way out of situations. If you followed moves in the auto cannon sphere you would perhaps understand why 50mm cartridges are being looked at? But obviously you don’t I am not here too teach you. I would expect a 40mm cartridge to how more power than a 30mm cartridge. Surely that is self evident. If you… Read more »
Come on now,that’s twice you have bought gender into your answers! NOBODY has questioned you on that so why do you think you need to bring it up?as far as I can see you get the same treatment as everyone else! Please keep posting your opinions👍
“Stephanie” or whoever you are as your ID keeps changing. Your post comes across as way over the top and quite confrontational. As you said to me once in a condescending manner… “this post shows you lack the experience and have not thought the matter through” Well, this post has the same air of arrogant superiority about it. “Cheers” No, that is how Ian often signs off his posts. Overly defensive from you with no real justification. “If you had spent time with light cavalry officers and seniors NCO’s you were perhaps understand their concern about the size of the… Read more »
Oh and another thing, “Light Cavalry” are the Jackal Regiments.
Ajax is Armoured Cavalry.
The gun is okay but the turret should be modified to be able to do anti drone.
I can’t see every vehicle on the battlefield having an anti-drone system.
Yep. Some countries, including certain superpowers, have a mere 25mm cannon on their recce vehicles, so 40mm is ‘top of the class’.
The 40mm gun seems pretty devastating to me.