UK to proceed with Ajax programme despite earlier safety setbacks

Britain’s Defence Readiness Minister Luke Pollard has said the army will restart acceptance trials of the Ajax armoured vehicle, produced by General Dynamics, under stricter controls aimed at improving conditions for soldiers following earlier safety concerns.

The £6 billion ($8.1 billion) Ajax programme has faced persistent technical problems and delays since its order in 2014, with speculation in recent years that it could be scrapped after trials left troops reporting nausea, hearing issues and involuntary shaking linked to noise and vibration, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Pollard paused trials in December to allow for a safety investigation after soldiers were left vomiting and experienced hearing loss and uncontrollable shaking.

He said that limited trials would now restart after findings showed noise and vibration were within exposure limits, but that improvements would be made to the vehicle relating to the use of air filtration, heating and the electrical power generation system.

Pollard said the upgrades would be delivered within “the existing programme scope and financial envelope”, amid concerns that a significant redesign could add millions of pounds in costs at a time when tight budgets have already delayed the country’s Defence Investment Plan by several months.

“We will continue to work with General Dynamics to proceed safely, responsibly, and transparently to deliver an improved Ajax user experience for our soldiers,” Pollard said.

Ajax vehicles are manufactured by General Dynamics in South Wales, where the company employs around 700 people.

By Aghakazim Guliyev