Ajax woes hugely damaging to Army, says former tank commander as trials set to restart

After the Ministry of Defence announced that the Ajax programme is set to restart, a former tank commander has described the latest episode in its troubled journey as "hugely damaging" to the Army. 

Following a safety report, the issues affecting crew safety have been identified, and plans are being drafted to address them. 

Trials have been paused since November after more than 30 soldiers became sick and ill while operating the vehicle last year during Exercise Titan Storm.

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Hugely damaging 

Reacting to the announcement, former tank commander Hamish de Bretton-Gordon told BFBS Forces News: "It's been hugely damaging. We know how late this is, we know that this is a project that's cost over £6bn or more, and it's a vital part of our land capability going forward. The recce strike, that is what we're learning from Ukraine. 

"This is how we need to operate on today's and tomorrow's battlefield in able to win.

"But, you know, yet again, we've had another delay. No training on Ajax since November, since Titan Storm. So, in effect, we're another six months behind."

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard said that the safety investigation found that noise and vibration levels were below legal exposure limits. 

In his statement to Parliament, Mr Pollard said the symptoms soldiers suffered were likely the result of a combination of incorrect track tension, loose or missing engine deck bolts, environmental and human factors, including variability in training and experience, cold exposure and air quality within the vehicle. 

He said strict new controls will be in place for its reintroduction, which is expected to be in two phases. 

The 23 vehicles used in Exercise Titan Storm, where soldiers fell ill, leading to the programme being paused, won't be given back to soldiers until the MOD believes it is appropriate to do so. 

The minister said that all those who fell ill have now returned to their normal duties.

A lot of people bear responsibility 

Colonel (Ret’d) Hamish de Bretton-Gordon said "absolutely, potentially, people haven't, you know, really grasped the nettle to get to move forward.

"I don't think the blame is all on the Army and all on the operators at all. At the end of the day, if a lot of these issues had been identified and funded when they became apparent, then we wouldn't be in this position.

"But we know how tight the defence budget is at the moment and how challenged ministers are to spend money on the Army and defence as a whole. So, I think a lot of people bear responsibility here."

He added: "The main thing I think now is we must all move forward and get on with it." 

Ajax was originally due to enter service back in 2017.