The Ministry of Defence is placing unrealistic expectations on how soldiers can safely operate the Ajax armoured vehicle while its underlying noise and vibration problems remain unresolved, the Public Accounts Committee has found, the UK Defence Journal understands.
In its report on the department’s 2024-25 accounts, the committee said the department was “placing unrealistic expectations on how soldiers operate Ajax vehicles safely when it has still not resolved the underlying noise and vibration issues”. It recounted that Exercise Titan Storm was halted in November 2025 after 33 soldiers reported symptoms from noise and vibration following time spent operating in Ajax vehicles.
Five soldiers were still under medical review when departmental officials gave evidence to the committee in March 2026. The department had claimed the vehicle was safe when operated and maintained correctly within its design parameters, but the committee said it had not explained clearly how the exercise had exceeded those limits.
The committee took particular issue with the department’s expectation that soldiers carry out maintenance checks every time they stop the vehicle, which it called unreasonable given that soldiers may need to use vehicles for long periods in combat. The need for soldiers to build and maintain the skills to operate armoured vehicles was clear, it said, but the vehicles themselves had to be fit for purpose.
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the committee’s chair, said the report had to add another chapter to the troubled history of the programme. “Our thoughts are with all those soldiers who reported symptoms from noise and vibration after operating these vehicles, and we were frankly astounded to hear officials explain that proper use of Ajax requires maintenance checks every time it is stopped,” he said. “This is frankly an insult to intelligence, and much good may this advice do our fighting men and women if called upon to operate Ajax in combat.”
The department is developing a package of upgrades known as Ajax 2, including composite rubber tracks and automatic track tensioners, intended to make the vehicle more comfortable for its crew. The committee said the department had not given it the likely costs of those upgrades, and that it would “wait to see, more in hope than in expectation, whether these endeavours will succeed”.
The committee’s recommendation pressed the department on two fronts. It should explain why it believes the current operating restrictions for Ajax are “realistic and appropriate, given the nature of the tasks those vehicles and their crews are expected to undertake both in training and on the battlefield”. And it should provide a detailed memorandum setting out “precisely how much the Department will pay for Ajax”, including how much the manufacturer will pay for the delays in delivering a vehicle fit for purpose, the cost of the modifications needed to bring the vehicles up to standard and how much of that the manufacturer will bear, and why the department still expects Ajax can be made fit for purpose.
Ajax, a tracked reconnaissance vehicle, has been among the most troubled procurement programmes of recent years, beset by long delays and by safety concerns over noise and vibration that previously halted trials and prompted medical assessments of crews. The committee’s latest findings indicate that, despite years of work, questions over whether the vehicle can be operated safely under realistic conditions, and over its eventual cost, remain unresolved.
Ha, You should try riding a “Hardly Moveingson” If you want to suffer from Noise and Vibration !
More American junk. 🚮🚜🛵
If Ajax 2 doesn’t work why not a Ajax 3 with completely new suspension?! Can’t they manufacture new Ajax chassis’ for these 40mm turrets and use the old chassis’ for something else, convert to Ares with a RWS?
The problem is not only related to Ajax apparently it’s over the whole family of vehicles!
To expect a crew to get out and do maintenance every time it stops just beggars belief,it’s just not possible🤬
It’s actually not that uncommon, warrior crews have to do the same. Challenger 2 was one of the first vehicles to have in cab automatic tensioning added. It’s certainly not ideal but it’s a decent work around for now instead of scrapping the entire program.
Really! How many exercises have you been on where AFV crews jump out every 5 mins to do maintenance? Just imagine it can’t you “ move now” “sorry not at the moment still doing maintenance ” 🙄
Obviously Ajax etc are still not fit for purpose and they are trying to put the onus on the crews🤬
I have never been on an exercise where the crews had to jump out every 5 minutes to tighten the tracks.
That’s because track tightening is done on a twice daily basis or at regular intervals based on distance covered, not every 5 minutes.
It may surprise you to learn that the crews also have to get out and fill vehicles with fuel at regular intervals depending on distance covered. 😀
Bugger me who would have thought it 🤔so vehicles really need replen stops🙄😂yes a couple of times a day to check tensions etc is common however that’s not what’s being said here is it?\ the crews have to take every opportunity to do the checks implying every time they stop! NO other AFV even with slack tracks were/are making their crews sick! It’s becoming obvious sadly Ajax can’t be fixed.
Centurion AVRE,Chieftain AVLB,CET and 432s were within my experience what was yours?
I check my Bike chain every week, If that’s any help 🤔😁
Very wise can I recommend you do your gear cable as well👌and don’t forget to grease it!
If it can’t be fixed in a cheap timely manner bin Ajax, and then bin MOD as it is clearly not fit for purpose.