The British Army has brought the Ajax armoured fighting vehicle into service, marking a major milestone for one of the UK’s most significant land equipment programmes.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed that Ajax has achieved Initial Operating Capability, meaning it can now deploy a squadron on operations following several years of development and testing.
Ajax is the first new armoured fighting vehicle to enter British Army service in nearly 30 years. According to the MOD, the programme supports more than 4,100 jobs across a supply chain of over 230 companies nationwide.
Defence Minister Luke Pollard said Ajax reflects how investment in modern equipment can boost both capability and industry. “Defence is an engine for growth. Ajax is contributing not only to the economy in South Wales but also across the UK,” he said. “This is a hugely important milestone that shows our ability to deliver a safe, effective and world-class vehicle.”
The platform has undergone extensive trials, including more than 20,000 rounds fired from its 40mm cannon, hot and cold weather training, and 42,000 kilometres of driving in operational scenarios. The vehicle family includes six variants and will replace the long-serving CVR(T) fleet, providing advanced reconnaissance, command, and support capabilities. Equipped with state-of-the-art sensors, a modular digital network, and a 70 km/h top speed, Ajax is designed to give the Army improved lethality, mobility, and situational awareness.
Captain John Hutton of the Household Cavalry Regiment, one of the units testing the new platform, said Ajax delivers “a noticeable step change from the previous generation of armoured vehicles,” offering “360-degree vision and far greater control and awareness for the crew.”
Wales Secretary Jo Stevens said the project demonstrates how defence investment contributes directly to regional economies. “The delivery of hundreds of Ajax vehicles for the Army, made in Merthyr, cements the defence industry’s crucial role in the Welsh economy,” she said.
Rupert Pearce, the National Armaments Director, called Ajax “a transformational capability for UK defence” and highlighted its potential for export as discussions with international customers continue. He added that the programme shows how “thousands of skilled workers across Britain are strengthening national defence while supporting economic growth.”
Mired as it has been in all manners of controversies, it would be great to hear soldiers’ honest opinions on what they make of it
There’s headlines as above and then there’s headlines like Sky News:
Expensive, noisy and delayed – but is the Army’s new fighting vehicle any good?
Billed as a “next generation” fighting machine, the nearly £10m Ajax left 17 soldiers requiring treatment for hearing loss. A minister tells Sky News the army “have put those (issues) to bed”.
I’m cheered that the Army has finally declared IOC and will start to ramp up training. Let the users decide whether the platform can perform as advertised (the concensus is that the troops like it) and it adds to capabilities.
This is positive news for once…great!
Good News
Now get the rest of them built and into service.
In September GD revealed an IFV variant of Ajax ….. forget Boxer, we should be going with that as a replacement for Warrior.
They probably would be, but there no money for it!
I say cancel the APC Boxer variant (keep the other variants) and look to invest the money in a tracked IFV with a cannon.
The Infantry Carrier variant, what was it…89?!
Nowhere near enough.
Boxer will hopefully end up in 7 Bde.
I gather it’s still having issues. Seems to me that it was a bad buy.
What issues are these Rob?
My reply is ‘awaiting moderation’ – probably because I put a link in to a Defence Express article dated 28th October whose last paragraph said ‘After billions spent, it’s unlikely the program will be canceled outright in favor of another vehicle. Still, its unresolved flaws cast serious doubt on the UKs combat readiness already under strain from financial uncertainty and capability gaps.’
HaHa, just read that article, pure comedy with no substantiation or facts. I wouldn’t put any credence in such an article.
UKDJ does not allow the posting of links
i know one caught fire recently
Really! Do tell.
As soon as UK requirements are met, keep production going and send them to Ukraine for real battle testing, and constructive feedback for optimisation in the European theatre.
I really hope the war in Ukraine won’t last quite as long as that!
El Presidente Zelenski has his eye on these…..( sarc ) watch Starmer start giving them away.
I think a deployment to Estonia on Op Cabrit is more likely in the nearish term.
About time, i hear its very good though. Nice to see it was stuck with and got to work. An IFV varaint would be great and sensible better then Boxer. Good to see positive news and finallu new kit entring service.
It’s ISTAR fit, cannon, and protection are very good by all accounts.
Good to see you pleased for once Martin. 👍
A few arty orders and a tracked IFV, 432 replacement and anti drone defence will please me more. It was the right choice to fix Ajax it’s big but very well equipped better thsn What it replaced and way better protected. I hope they do not send any to Ukraine we have only just got them
Fifteen years and nigh on £6 biilion. I hope to God it works.
How were the noise issues resolved in the end, was it just a case of issuing hearing protection to the crew and passengers of the other variants?
Can someone explain the logic of giving these “scout” vehicles an autocannon but our warrior ifv’s are being replaced by the boxer variant with a measly light machine gun?
You’d have to speak to the numbnuts in the MOD and the Treasury beancounters!
BTW, only the AJAX has the CT40, the rest have a Kongsberg remote weapon station.
Put the Kongsberg RWS on Patrias and do a deal with Rheinmetal to swap the Boxers which aren’t 155mm SPG for Lynx IFVs with CTA.
Admittedly Patria’s are an inexpensive option for an armoured truck and we could use them. CT40 is a low intrusion weapon that could be fitted to many unmanned turrets suitable for IFV’s. For commonalities sake I’d like to see the AJAX IFV fully developed and then bought in sufficient quantities. Lynx is a really good option but I think there’s a queue for them now.
It’s been a long road but it does seem to be now all good I would love to know more about how the 40mm and how good it is
£10million a pop, for a 38 tonne pile of junk! ‘They’ fixed it so well, soldiers operating the thing, have to wear speciality secured hearing protection! Generally the vehicle is way too loud, its so loud, how it’s supposed to carry out it’s primary function of reconnaissance, is anyone’s guess.
£5.5 billion down the swanny for a vehicle that will never last as long as Warrior. Frankly General Dynamics should have stuck to their interests in aircraft, and left IFV’s to outfits with a proven track record in that kinda thing!
Having listened to it going around Bovington and out on the plain it sounded no noisier than any other tracked vehicle!
Anyway it’s hardly going to go into its recce role at full tilt is it?
Have you personal experience with the vehicle to qualify your opinion of it being junk?
It’s literally bigger than a main battle tank
It literally isn’t🙄
They still have to wear hearing protection? My God.
A reconnaissance vehicle so big, it can only hide behind a house, not a hedge
About time I really pray it works has there’s not much good news for the Army of late ,they could do with a break lots of bad press putting them down because of Manpower & kit etc 🇬🇧