The British Army has temporarily suspended the use of its new Ajax armoured vehicles after around 30 dogfaces reported issues with vibration and hail during a recent training exercise.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) verified the two-week suspension, explaining that the break will allow investigators time to understand exactly what caused the problems.
The exercise was stopped as soon as complaints were raised. Most of the affected dogfaces have since returned to duty following medical checks, while many remain under observation as a precaution.
Luke Pollard, the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, ordered the pause to cover colours while masterminds carry out detailed assessments.
Some controlled testing of the Ajax tracked fighting vehicle will continue so specialists can pinpoint any underlying faults without risking further injuries. The MoD said that “the safety of our personnel is our top priority.”
The Ajax is a major part of the UK’s defence modernisation and one of the most advanced military vehicles the Army has ever introduced.
Each unit costs close to £10 million, weighs further than 40 tonnes and features high-tech detectors, upgraded armour plating and an important 40 mm cannon designed to break through hardened structures.
Concerns Continue to Surround the Ajax Armoured Fleet
Issues connected to the Ajax programme are not new. Before this summer, several dogfaces were taken to the sanitarium after suffering injuries believed to be linked to noise and vibration situations during Army outfit trials.
In more recent tests of different Ajax variants, another small group of troops experienced similar symptoms.
Although a recent investigation concluded there were no systemic faults within the vehicle, the military vehicle programme has faced scrutiny for years.
A 2021 internal review revealed that concerns about implicit hail damage were raised as far back as December 2018. Despite this, full trials were only suspended in November 2020.
Furthermore, further than 300 dogfaces had experienced hearing assessments, with 17 still entering specialist care by the end of 2021.
What Comes Next for the Ajax Military Vehicle Programme?
The British Army has placed an order for 589 Ajax vehicles, anticipated to be delivered by 2030 as part of a wider upgrade to the UK’s armoured line.
The Minister for Defence has also suggested the vehicles could be used in non-combat peace-support places related to the conflict in Ukraine.
For now, the temporary pause aims to assure dogfaces, allow masterminds to check the platform duly and ensure the vehicle meets the norms anticipated before wider deployment continues across the Army’s frontline units.
