The Ministry of Defence has confirmed it has received the final Army safety investigation report into the Ajax armoured vehicle programme, with ministers set to update Parliament on next steps after the Easter recess.
In response to written questions, Defence Minister Luke Pollard said “we have received the final Army safety investigation report, and work is ongoing to agree next steps,” adding that the department continues to engage with manufacturer General Dynamics.
Pollard said engagement with the company has been ongoing since Exercise TITAN STORM, with discussions now focused on determining the programme’s next phase. “The department continues to engage with General Dynamics on the report and next steps,” he said. No timeline has been provided for when remaining work will conclude, and ministers have not yet set out what decisions may follow from the report.
Pollard said he would “update the House after Easter recess to outline next steps,” indicating that further clarity on the future of Ajax is expected in the coming weeks.
The programme has faced a series of safety-related setbacks. In late 2025, training activity was halted after reports of soldiers experiencing illness linked to noise and vibration during exercises, prompting a temporary pause in use while investigations were carried out. Subsequent incidents, including a further case during ongoing trials in December, led to additional scrutiny, with multiple vehicles withdrawn from activity and subjected to detailed inspections and assessment.
These issues formed part of wider investigations involving both Army-led inquiries and an independent review, with testing activity curtailed while data was gathered. The programme’s Initial Operating Capability status was later withdrawn in early 2026, reflecting the continued uncertainty surrounding the platform’s safety and readiness.
According to a French article, the production is carried out by resolving the noise and vibration issues, but it won’t continue with operational service until further notice.
As Easter is early this year not long to wait then(as if they don’t know the outcome already)!
In fairness, after Easter could mean Christmas, so don’t hold your breath…..
Mmm now there’s a thought😂
I’m crossing my fingers and toes that Ajax can be fixed, it will be an amazing capability uplift and a successful introduction will clear the way to complete the modernisation of the Army.
However given how long it has taken to get to this point I just can’t see how it can be fixed. Everything seems to show it needs an entire redesign of the suspension system. If we end up with one more bodged fix of new chairs and ear plugs the vehicle will never live down its bad reputation and crews will quite rightly think before serving in them.
Even if it does turn out to be fine the psychological damage it will do and the reputational damage should not be underestimated.
Ajax was first sent back due to excessive noise in November of 2020 and was “updated” and returned to testing in October of 2022. Whereupon it failed again. And since the middle of 2022 there has been 2.5 years of further developments at GD UK.
It is remotely possible that some sort of upgrade is possible.
But I have my doubts.
One of the interesting things here is that they already have 100+ of them that they will need to retrofit any “fixes” on to. Then supposedly they will move forward with production using the “fixes”.
“Everything seems to show it needs an entire redesign of the suspension system”
Incorrect.
Corrected statement: production would carry on due to the noise and issue being resolved. Damn autocorrect. I hope the edit button comes back.
I read your original comment and couldn’t make sense of it. I thought you might be French and English was your second language 🤣
Yeah, damn autocorrect.
Too much invested for this not to be ‘fixed’.
Pack the Dramamine and Earplugs.
Fingers crossed a fix can happen the Army need the vehicles capabilities, waiting another 5 10 years isn’t an option.
It being fixed would be the ideal solution but it seems hard to believe that there is a simple fix considering how little effort has been made so far to do so since issues first arose in 2020, extra ear protectors and vibration dampers for seats isn’t exactly a proper fix for a brand new vehicle that hasn’t entered service, but was accepted. I hope this isn’t just another ignore the problem and hope it goes away solution that leaves us still looking for alternatives and retiring it early in the next decade.
Obviously if it can be fixed properly then great, that way if there are any additional funds for AFVs that it gets spent on a tracked IFV (off the shelf) for 3 Div rather than replacing a capability the Army should already have and has been paid for in terms of AJAX.
Tests done are laughable. So much I’ve heard that is just beyond belief
This program just like the “Defence Investment Plan” is a complete and utter farce.
3, 2, 1, ….. incoming whitewash!!!
According to Forces News, a high ranking army officers stated it has been established the current noise and vibration issues are caused by lack of maintenance associated with keeping the track tension correct ie loose tracks significantly increases the level of noise/vibration.
Surely not, track tension is one of the most basic fundamentals of maintenance of tracked vehicles!
Sounds odd but it could be true. If the tolerance between acceptable and not is insanely thin, then they could be getting marginally loose, what would be considered fine for other vehicles and causing issues. It would however cause questions on their suitability for sustained deployment.
Doesn’t sound like a cancellation if still talking with general dynamics.
Best out come is a proper fix and vehicle enters service as there is kit its meant to have replaced being gapped and no money to start again plus time to re trail a new vehicle and set up production. Its a sound good vehicle just not very well made If we have buy some thing new then some thing else will suffer to pay for it and that in its self will have a knock on.
We are totally short of up to date kit and Ajax working will help a lot, more so if other variants of it are up to standard and use the same parts, ie the IFV variant and may be an over watch verson that in its self may solve other kit shortages. And could be in service quicker than a completely new type or vehicle and ease spares/ammo .