Ajax programme boss sacked after safety failures

The senior official responsible for the British Army Ajax armoured vehicle programme has been removed from post following a ministerial review that found serious failures in how safety risks were reported to ministers.

In a written statement to Parliament, Defence Minister Luke Pollard confirmed that the Senior Responsible Owner for Ajax is no longer in role, after investigations revealed that ministers were not fully informed of known safety concerns before the platform was declared safe for use.

Pollard said he had been told by senior Ministry of Defence personnel that Ajax was “demonstrably safe” prior to Initial Operating Capability being granted, only for 35 soldiers to later report symptoms consistent with noise and vibration injuries during a training exercise in November 2025.

“To say that I am angry about the findings of the Ministerial review is an understatement,” Pollard told MPs, adding that issues raised within the programme had not been escalated appropriately.

The incident led to an immediate and indefinite pause in Ajax training, followed weeks later by a second report involving vibration symptoms during testing, prompting a halt to all trials and evaluation activity. While the Defence Accident Investigation Branch found the response to the incident was swift and well coordinated, Pollard said this did not alter the fact that personnel were harmed and that the underlying causes remain unresolved.

The minister confirmed that although departmental submissions had technically described Ajax as safe to operate, they failed to reflect the “full breadth of known aggregated safety risk”, particularly relating to vibration injuries and the programme’s historical issues. He said this incomplete advice directly contributed to the decision to declare Initial Operating Capability.

“Ministers rely on accurate, timely and complete information to make decisions in the national interest,” Pollard said. “When that information does not meet this standard, the consequences are not abstract. They can be real, human and serious.”

An interim Senior Responsible Owner has now been appointed by the Army, while oversight of the programme has been transferred to the National Armaments Director, who will provide regular updates to ministers. Pollard confirmed that he will not comment on individual HR matters, but the removal of the programme lead follows the review’s findings.

The welfare position of affected soldiers was also updated. Of the 35 personnel involved in the November exercise, 25 have returned to duty, two were found to have symptoms unrelated to Ajax, and eight continue to be monitored. The soldier involved in the later testing incident has since returned to duty with no ongoing issues.

Pollard also confirmed that Initial Operating Capability for Ajax has now been formally paused, stating that the platform cannot meet the minimum standard required for IOC until concerns raised during Exercise Titan Storm are resolved. Limited trials and testing will restart to inform a forthcoming decision on the vehicle’s future, which will be taken as part of the Defence Investment Plan.

“Members of our Armed Forces voluntarily place themselves in harm’s way to keep the rest of us safe,” he said. “It is therefore wholly unacceptable for them to be exposed to avoidable risk.”

Despite the programme’s difficulties, Pollard said the Army would continue working with General Dynamics to identify solutions, stressing that any future decision would place personnel safety first.

“Let there be no misunderstanding: the safety of our people remains paramount,” he said. “That is the standard our Armed Forces deserve, and it is the standard our Government will uphold.”