British Army Receives First Ajax Armoured vehicles After Decade-Long Delay
LONDON – The British Army has begun receiving its first Ajax armoured vehicles, marking the culmination of a troubled program delayed by eight years and plagued by critically important technical issues. The initial delivery, confirmed this week, represents a key – though belated – step in modernizing the UK’s armoured reconnaissance capabilities.
The Ajax program, originally intended to deliver 589 vehicles and variants at a cost of over £5.5 billion, faced repeated setbacks stemming from design flaws and integration challenges. Despite the delays and criticisms over its suitability for modern warfare, notably in light of the conflict in Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) maintains that Ajax remains a vital component of the UK’s overall military strategy and supports 4,100 jobs domestically. Full delivery is now expected by the end of the decade.
Soldiers involved with the program argue that the vehicle’s value isn’t diminished by the emergence of drone technology. “We wouldn’t fight like the Ukrainians,” said L/CoH Andrew Rawlinson, an Ajax vehicle commander, emphasizing its ineffectiveness in direct trench warfare. Rawlinson also highlighted the limitations of drones, stating, “We haven’t got to think, the second its windy we can’t put our drones up,” and noting their limited battery life of “about 30 minutes to an hour.”
The mod asserts that Ajax will be deployed as part of a broader, integrated military approach alongside allies, utilizing a full spectrum of capabilities from fighter jets to infantry. The program’s continuation underscores the UK’s commitment to maintaining a robust,independent military capability,even as the nature of modern conflict evolves.
