Ajax completes live firing test
The British Army has successfully completed an early live firing test programme of its Ajax armoured fighting vehicle, in Wales, the UK government announced on 12 April.
The programme involved testing the main 40mm stabilised cannon and chain gun while the vehicle was static. The early live firing was done to de-risk the formal firing programme due to take place later in 2016. The formal firing will be used to obtain further evidence before moving to manned firing in early 2017.
General Dynamics UK and Lockheed Martin UK conducted the test while the UK MoD observed.
Lt Col David Cathro, senior requirements manager, Ajax programme, said: ‘The challenges in getting to this point should not be underestimated and today is the result of a lot of hard work by General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, CTAI, DE&S and the army. Seeing the firings today gives us confidence that the army will receive this battle winning and transformational capability on time and to budget.’
The Ajax platforms are a new proposed fleet of 589 armoured vehicles that will come in six variants being developed for the British Army. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2017.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![US pours another $23 billion into Arsenal of Freedom to ramp up missile production]()
US pours another $23 billion into Arsenal of Freedom to ramp up missile production
The US Department of Defense (DoD) is spending billions of dollars to accelerate missile production to meet demands from the war against Iran and requirements in Ukraine. Manufacture of SM-3 and PAC-3 interceptors is being ramped up, alongside a $22.9 billion commitment to Tomahawk cruise missiles.
-
![Rheinmetall advances longer 155mm ordnance with 30% range increase]()
Rheinmetall advances longer 155mm ordnance with 30% range increase
Rheinmetall has begun initial firing trials of a new 155mm/60-calibre artillery ordnance that could deliver up to 30% greater range than its existing 155mm/52-calibre system, as production of the current gun expands across Germany and the UK.
-
![Trans-European iMUGS2 uncrewed systems programme set for three-day exercise in 2028]()
Trans-European iMUGS2 uncrewed systems programme set for three-day exercise in 2028
The next stage of the Integrated Modular Unmanned Ground System (iMUGS) programme, dubbed iMUGS2, was launched in November 2025. Three major demonstrations are planned before the end of 2028.
