Sounding the Alarm: Army Halts Use of Ajax Vehicles After Soldiers Fall Ill

The British Army has temporarily halted the use of its Ajax armoured vehicles following reports of health issues among soldiers during recent training exercises. Approximately 30 soldiers experienced symptoms such as vomiting and shaking after experiencing excessive noise and vibration from the vehicles on Salisbury Plain. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced an investigation into these incidents, emphasizing their decision was taken “out of an abundance of caution”.

The Ajax programme, costing £6.3 billion, has been plagued with issues including long delays and technical faults. It was intended to replace the aging CVR(T) vehicles and had achieved initial operating capability (IOC), indicating it could deploy a squadron. Despite claims of overcoming past troubles, the recent health concerns have prompted a two-week pause in all training with Ajax vehicles while safety assessments are conducted.

A spokesperson from MoD confirmed, “A small number of personnel” are receiving ongoing medical care, while the majority have been cleared for further duty. The Ajax programme’s history of systemic problems was extensively reviewed in 2023 and highlighted a series of errors in judgment related to the project. Over 160 vehicles have been built, yet full operational capability is now not expected for another four years. Tempting prospects of foreign sales were dimmed by these recent issues, putting the spotlight back on the MoD’s handling of this high-profile, troubled programme.

These events raise serious questions about the Ajax project that has been labeled as potentially the “most advanced medium-weight armoured fighting vehicle” globally. However, with setbacks such as excessive noise levels still in the frame, the challenges faced by the British Army and its procurement processes are more evident than ever.