British army fielding Ajax, first new armored recon vehicle in decades

The British army is rolling out its first new armored fighting vehicle in nearly 30 years. The Defense Ministry on Thursday formally declared Initial Operating Capability for the Ajax, meaning the army is prepared to deploy a squadron of them for military operations.

The Ajax, built by General Dynamics U.K. at a factory in Wales, will replace the FV101 Scorpion, a British reconnaissance vehicle and light tank that has been in service since 1971.

The British government is spending more than $6.5 billion on the Ajax, which it said marks its commitment to the largest sustained increase in defense spending since the end of the Cold War.

“Ajax boasts world-class capabilities,” said Luke Pollard, Britain’s minister for readiness and industry. “It is a hugely important milestone that the U.K.-wide suppliers have delivered a vehicle that is safe, effective and truly cutting-edge, which will be recognized by allies and adversaries alike.”

The Ajax has undergone extensive testing the past several years, such as driving the equivalent of the circumference of the Earth and firing more than 20,000 rounds from its 40 mm cannon — the vehicle’s primary offensive weapon — including while on the move, British officials said.

Army Capt. John Hutton of the U.K.’s Household Cavalry Regiment was one of the British soldiers who helped put the Ajax through its paces. He said it was a noticeable change from previous generations of armored fighting vehicles.

“The control mechanism, the responsiveness of the vehicle, and the situational awareness granted to a driver [are] unlike anything I have driven before,” he said in a statement. “This gives the driver unparalleled awareness of their surroundings and far greater ease in controlling the vehicle across ground.”

The Ajax boasts a sophisticated array of sensors, a highly digitized and networked system, a powerful engine, an advanced suspension system, a modular armor package, and the 40mm cannon, said British military officials who called it the world’s most advanced, midweight armored fighting vehicle.

“Ajax represents a transformational capability for U.K. defense, delivered by thousands of skilled workers across Britain,” said Rupert Pearce, the British government’s national armaments director.