AJAX turret in manned live fire testing
Manned live fire testing of the turret developed for the British Army’s Ajax vehicle has begun, Lockheed Martin UK announced on 6 November.
The initial testing began in October in west Wales. The formal qualification trials will include testing of the vehicle’s CTAI 40mm (CT40) cannon and the 7.62mm chain gun.
The initial phase tested firing from a static vehicle on a static target. The trials will continue over the coming months, progressing to fire on the move at a moving target. The manned firing will generate data to support manned crew clearance processes – assessing the safety and suitability of the platform for use by military personnel.
Lee Fellows, programme director for Ajax at Lockheed Martin UK, said: ‘This is a huge milestone for us and for the Ajax programme.
‘The Ajax firings have been successful and we are confident they will continue to be so as we progress through the trial. It’s another step towards getting this world-class capability to the British Army.’
The AJAX turret, developed by Lockheed Martin UK, shares commonality with the upgraded turret for the Ministry of Defence’s Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![AUSA 2026: Textron shows upgraded Commando Select as it seeks exports beyond Ukraine]()
AUSA 2026: Textron shows upgraded Commando Select as it seeks exports beyond Ukraine
The latest Commando Select configuration incorporates improvements to its powerpack and suspension, with the first of 65 vehicles destined for Ukraine expected to be delivered in early 2027.
-
![AUSA 2026: Northrop Grumman targets lower-cost air defence with $100 million Raid Hunter investment]()
AUSA 2026: Northrop Grumman targets lower-cost air defence with $100 million Raid Hunter investment
At AUSA 2026, Northrop Grumman revealed it had invested US$100 million in its Raid Hunter gun-based air defence capability, which the company claims could reduce the cost of individual engagements by 95.5% compared with interceptor missiles.
-
![Active protection systems: from optional upgrade to operational requirement]()
Active protection systems: from optional upgrade to operational requirement
As battlefield threats multiply, active protection systems are becoming increasingly important for armoured vehicle survivability – but cost, integration challenges and evolving drone threats will determine how widely they can be deployed.
