The UK Army has temporarily halted the use of its Ajax armoured vehicles after around 30 soldiers reported illness linked to noise and vibration during a training exercise on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire. Some soldiers experienced vomiting and tremors, prompting the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to launch a full safety investigation.
The affected personnel are receiving expert medical care, though most have been cleared for duty. The MoD has ordered a two-week pause on all Ajax training and exercises as a precaution while testing continues to identify and resolve potential issues.
The £6.3bn Ajax programme, built by General Dynamics in Merthyr Tydfil, south Wales, has faced long-standing delays due to technical faults and safety concerns. Originally slated to enter service in 2019, more than 160 of the planned 589 vehicles have been completed.
Despite Defence Minister Luke Pollard’s claims that the programme “has left its troubles behind” and that Ajax is “the most advanced medium-weight armoured fighting vehicle on the planet,” noise and vibration problems persist. The vehicles are intended to replace the aging CVR(T) fleet, which has served since 1971.
A 2023 review of the programme highlighted “systemic, cultural and institutional problems” at the MoD and noted errors of judgment in the project. The full operational capability of Ajax may not be achieved for several years, despite earlier assurances of readiness.
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