Beleaguered Ajax programme moves on with new, much later, in-service dates
Ajax will eventually give the British Army a new armoured offensive reconnaissance capability as well five other variants for different roles. (Photo: UK MoD/Crown Copyright)
The UK MoD has today announced the revision of in-service dates for the beleaguered Ajax programme and that payments to manufacturer General Dynamics would resume this month.
These were paused in December 2020 due to concerns over noise and vibration problems with the platform.
The vehicles will now enter service between July and December 2025, five years later than initially planned when the development and manufacturing contract was awarded in 2014.
Full operating capability is now planned for between October 2028 and September 2029, at least four years later than the British Army originally envisaged.
In the interim, regiments will
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Land Warfare
-
Hungary set to begin using Hero 400 loitering munitions
Developed by Israel's Uvision and with systems being sold in the thousands to multiple European NATO countries and the US, the Hero family of loitering systems is also in production in the US and Italy, the latter through Rheinmetall.
-
Croatia orders Leopards and CAESAR howitzers as Lithuania orders more CAESARs
The Leopard is becoming the tank of choice in central and eastern Europe as Croatia joins Lithuania, the Czech Republic and Hungary in ordering the platform. Lithuania and Croatia have also signed for CAESAR howitzers.
-
Light Reconnaissance Strike – enabling a vital mission set (Studio)
A new system-of-systems concept will unlock digital integration of sensors and weapons for Light Forces, allowing them to shape the battlefield environment on their own terms and upgrade legacy platforms.