Ajax firing testing begins

The first live firing tests have been carried out for the Ajax armoured fighting vehicle programme, General Dynamics Land Systems–UK announced on 14 December.

The manned firing testing was carried out on an Ares variant, to test the performance of the Protector remote weapon system. Three weapons were tested: the General Purpose Machine Gun, Heavy Machine Gun and Grenade Machine Gun (GMG). 

The tests saw crew fire from within the vehicles to gather critical data to demonstrate the platform’s ability to accurately and consistently engage specific targets at varying distances.

Chief of Materiel (Land) for Defence Equipment and Support, Lt Gen Paul Jaques, said: ‘The successful conclusion of the initial round of live firing trials is an important step towards delivery of the Ajax fleet; the biggest single order for armoured vehicles for the British Army in more than 30 years.  

‘I look forward to seeing further success in trials before the first of these capable vehicles, which will sit at the heart of the British Army’s two new Strike Brigades, are delivered to the army next year.’

General Dynamics Land Systems–UK will undertake a five-month manned live firing trial of the turreted Ajax variant in 2017, which includes the firing of all on board weapons systems, including the CTA International 40mm cannon.