Land forces review: Tanks, trucks and IFVs dominate but woes remain for Ajax
The Ajax was shown at Defence IQ’s International Armoured Vehicles conference in mortar variant for the first time. (Photo: author)
This year has begun with main battle tanks taking the lead while orders for large logistics and support vehicles continued from last year. Additionally, two of the British Army’s most significant contracted vehicle programmes, Ajax reconnaissance vehicle and Challenger 3 tank, continued to make news in January.
Main battle tanks (MBTs) were out front in the news in January, most notably with an important milestone for the British Army’s Challenger 3. This came alongside more orders being placed for large and logistics vehicles, a new Boxer 8x8 user approaching the start line and plans for new vehicle deliveries.
IDV announced in December 2025, it would supply an additional 658 tactical-logistic trucks to the Italian Army, extending the original contract signed in 2024 for 1,453 vehicles and taking the total to 2,111 units, with deliveries planned through 2039.
In the middle of January, John Cockerill Defense and Daimler Truck were awarded a
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