Ajax the star attraction as military might goes on show at British Army Expo 25
The latest armoured vehicles have been showcased at this year's Army Expo event in Scotland.
Ajax was one of the star attractions as the event was held in Edinburgh for the very first time.
It is designed to be at the heart of the British Army's armoured fleet and operate at the core of the Army's intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability.
Soldiers have been showcasing the capabilities of the platform at Edinburgh's Redford Cavalry Barracks with a lively demonstration of the impact it could have on the battlefield.
Director of the event Lieutenant Colonel James Chandler said: "Expo is the Army's principle strategic engagement event for the year and it is where we conduct an immersive and engaging West End theatre show to communicate the Army's purpose, modernisation programme and the importance it places on its people to as many people as we can up here in Edinburgh in August this year.
"We try and create two separate atmospheres and environments.
"The first environment we create is what you'd normally associate is being with the local cinema.
"And after that cinema magically transitions into a military operation centre and the audience are immediately thrown into a military environment where soldiers use that environment to communicate what the army is all about, what it's going to try and achieve in the future and the importance that we place upon our people.
"After we've been in that operation centre the audience are then brought out into an environment called 'war in the east'.
"It's a fictional crisis zone and in that environment, audiences get to see pieces of army equipment and capability that may be used in responding to a particular crisis of that nature.
"And those pieces of equipment are used as a vehicle for soldiers to communicate the Army's narrative and the armies messaging in relation to where the Army is at the moment and where it's going in the future.”
The Apache AH-64E helicopter, operated by the Army Air Corps (AAC), was also on display at the show.
It replaced the AH-64D model and is a multi-role combat aircraft equipped with a 30mm chain gun, 70mm rockets and Hellfire missiles.
The Army operates 50 of these deadly helicopters, with the final platform being delivered to the AAC earlier this year.
It is the first time the British Army Expo has been held in Edinburgh, and the event aimed to demonstrate the warfighting capability as well as the future strategy of the service.
Also on show was the Challenger 2 Tank, the Jackal 2 – a unique platform using an air-bag suspension system, allowing for rapid movement across varying terrain, as well as the Boxer combat vehicle.
Lance Corporal Robin McNamara of the Scottish & North Irish Yeomanry said: "Army Expo 25 is really important from an engagement standpoint, getting the public in here, seeing what we're all about, also the human side of the army.
"I'd say there's absolutely a need to be ready to pivot to the new geopolitical reality.
"It's quite impressive in here today, seeing all the new kit with the army is bringing in to deal with this.
"The kit we are bringing in just now is very much geared towards a near-peer adversary, all very modern lot heavier than the equipment beginning for Afghanistan and Iraq."
Commander 51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland, Brigadier Jody Davies said: "We are really excited that Army EXPO is here in Edinburgh.
"It's the Chief of the General Staff's key strategic engagement platform, and for us to be able to deliver it here in Scotland, with Scottish voices and to a predominantly Scottish audience and to the wider UK, is a great honour.
"Expo is an opportunity for us to really focus the audience on our purpose, our people, and the modernisation programme that the British Army has. It will allow us to explain conceptually, physically, and practically to the delegates attending.
"It will also give the audience the opportunity to be immersed in a replicative environment of current conflict, speak to our brilliant soldiers and allow them to understand better the challenges we collectively face as an army and a nation."
Expo 25 takes place between 18 and 23 August 2025.
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