The UK Ministry of Defence has decided to restart testing and acceptance trials of the Ajax armored fighting vehicles after a comprehensive safety review cleared the program to proceed. Testing had been halted in late 2025 when around 30 soldiers reported symptoms such as vomiting, hearing issues, and tremors during a multinational exercise in England.
An in-depth investigation did not identify a single root cause but pointed to a combination of technical factors, training differences, cold weather exposure, and air quality conditions. Authorities confirmed that noise and vibration levels remained within permissible limits. All affected personnel have since returned to duty, with most cases involving only temporary symptoms.
UK Defence Minister Luke Pollard stated that trials will resume gradually, starting with a limited number of vehicles under tighter safety protocols. Planned enhancements include upgrades to air filtration systems, crew heating, and onboard electrical components. The government also confirmed that these improvements will be implemented without exceeding the program’s current budget.
Launched in 2014, the £6-billion Ajax program aims to deliver over 500 modern armored platforms to the British Army, marking its first major fleet renewal in nearly 30 years. Built by General Dynamics in South Wales, the project supports approximately 700 jobs, with the 100th vehicle delivered in April 2025.
The Ajax platform will replace the aging Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) fleet introduced in the 1960s. Each vehicle is about 8 meters long and is equipped with a 40mm cased telescoped cannon, a 7.62mm chain gun, a Javelin anti-tank missile system, and advanced sensor suites. Powered by an MTU V8 engine delivering 800 horsepower and paired with a RENK six-speed transmission, the vehicle can reach speeds of 70 km/h and has an operational range of around 500 km.
