British Army progresses with Boxer and Challenger 3 while Ajax’s fate remains uncertain
Ajax's IOC date is yet to be defined. (Photo: UK MoD/Crown Copyright)
The UK has been increasing efforts to improve the British Army's armoured fleet and has been progressing with the Boxer and Challenger 3 programmes — but Ajax casts a long shadow.
Representing the biggest single order for a UK armoured vehicle in more than 20 years, the Ajax armoured reconnaissance vehicle programme remains a headache for the British Army. The future of this effort remains uncertain as its IOC date is yet to be defined.
Although the vehicle is intended to play a major role as the digital architecture for the army’s Strike Brigades, the programme has encountered several challenges, with technical issues and delays putting its overall viability in jeopardy.
Shephard approached both the MoD and Ajax’s supplier General Dynamics UK (GDUK) for comment on the status and future of the Ajax programme.
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