Army resumes training on Ajax armoured vehicles

Units of the British Army have restarted training on the Ajax, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed, as a defence analyst suggests the troubled armoured vehicle will go down in history as one of the "problem children of British procurement."

Personnel will learn how to operate the armoured vehicles and their systems with training in Bovington and Bulford.

Troops will practise on the initial standard of vehicles – Capability Drop 1 – gaining experience and the skills before they receive the later Capability Drop 3 vehicles, which will be fully deployable.

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Originally intended to enter service in 2017, Ajax has been repeatedly delayed, with problems including noise and vibration issues, which saw some soldiers being medically discharged from service because of hearing loss during trials.

Defence analyst Professor Michael Clarke told Forces News: "It was always likely that they would find responses to the problems that have arisen.

"Two things, I think, are significant here. One is that the responses are just mitigations to what are design flaws in the vehicle, which are vibration and noise.

"Secondly, that Ajax has got a lot of ground to make up in terms of the confidence of the people who will be using it.

"Because it's got a bad reputation, or a bit of a false start as a piece of equipment, it will have to demonstrate more than would otherwise be the case, that it really can meet the Army's requirements and really replace, as far as anything could replace, the good old Warrior fighting vehicle."

He added: "It's got a long, long way to go, and I think Ajax, whatever happens now, will still go down in British procurement history as one of the great problem children of British procurement."

To ensure the vehicles are fit for purpose, reliability Growth Trials involve putting the Ajax vehicles through their paces operating across a range of speeds, firing weapons, using communications systems and completing tasks including vehicle recoveries and repairs.

The Army has received 44 Capability Drop 1 vehicles, whilst the Drop 3 is manufactured in Wales.

The Ajax programme will deliver 589 vehicles that use cutting-edge sensors, enhanced 40mm cannon, modular armour, and improved cross-country range and mobility for the UK military, according to the MOD, who says Ajax delivers a "step-change in the surveillance and reconnaissance capability".

Minister for Defence Procurement James Cartlidge said: "This is a significant moment for the British Army, marking a huge step forward for the Ajax Programme.

"The Ajax vehicles will provide a breakthrough in capability and I'm pleased to see such positive progress towards delivering a suite of battle-ready vehicles for our forces."

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Defence confirmed payments towards the £5.5bn cost of the vehicles would resume, and the MOD says the whole programme "remains within its originally approved budget level".