British Army shows off future heavy firepower

Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD) 2024 brought together the British Army’s latest armoured platforms—Ajax, Boxer, and Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank—demonstrating the modernisation of the UK’s land forces.

Held at the UTAC vehicle test facility in Millbrook, Bedfordshire, the event showcased the Army’s commitment to enhancing its land capabilities, ensuring the UK is equipped to face the evolving challenges of 21st-century warfare.

Major General Lizzie Faithfull-Davies, Director Land Equipment at Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), highlighted the importance of the event, saying, “The role of DVD has always been crucial to defence procurement, encouraging collaboration between industry, our customers in the Army, and ourselves in DE&S as we collectively build a more modern and lethal Army.”

She added that having the core of the modernised Armoured Brigade Combat Teams in one place felt like a significant turning point in the delivery of the Army’s modernisation agenda.

The two-day event was an opportunity for stakeholders from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and industry to engage in discussions, briefings, and demonstrations of the latest military technologies. These discussions focused on resilience, innovation, and enhancing capability to maintain the Army’s competitive edge. For many attendees, it was the first chance to see these state-of-the-art vehicles up close, each developed in collaboration with industry to equip the Army for current and future threats.

Colonel Jamie Hayward, Programme Director for Ajax, spoke of the vehicle’s importance in the Army’s modernisation plan: “Ajax is at the forefront of the Army’s Modernisation agenda. Alongside Boxer and Challenger 3, we’ll provide digitally enabled capability that allows the Army to face current threats.”

He highlighted Ajax’s six variants, which will help the UK maintain its role within NATO and address future challenges.

The Boxer armoured vehicle was also a key feature at DVD 2024, with Programme Director Colonel Iain Fake describing it as a “gamechanger” for the British Army. “The key selling point is its mobility,” he said, noting Boxer’s ability to self-deploy over 1,000 kilometres. Available in four configurations—including infantry carrier, command-and-control variant, specialist carrier, and ambulance—the Boxer offers unprecedented flexibility and operational reach for Army units.

The most anticipated platform at the event was the Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank, billed as the most lethal tank ever operated by the British Army.

Colonel Will Waugh, Programme Director for Challenger 3, described it as a “world-class main battle tank” and a “step-change in terms of lethality and survivability” compared to its predecessor. Waugh noted that alongside Ajax and Boxer, Challenger 3 will form the backbone of the Army’s future Brigade Combat Teams, a critical component of the UK’s warfighting capability and its contribution to NATO deterrence.

The modernised fleet of Ajax, Boxer, and Challenger 3 ensures that the British Army can operate across diverse terrains and weather conditions, using next-generation sensors to provide real-time reconnaissance and rapid response to threats.