The UK Ministry of Defense has initiated an investigation into the Ajax armored vehicle program following reports of soldiers falling ill during exercises. On 2/12, Under Secretary of State for Defense Procurement Luke Pollard ordered the probe after senior military officials had previously assured him of the vehicle's "safe operation," despite mounting evidence of health issues among personnel. The move comes after approximately 30 UK military personnel reported severe nausea, vomiting, and uncontrollable shaking linked to "loud noise and severe vibration" experienced inside the vehicles.

These health problems emerged during an exercise at Salisbury Plain on 22/11. Soldiers described vomiting upon exiting the vehicles and experiencing such intense shaking that they could not control their bodies. In response, Pollard ordered an immediate suspension of the vehicle's use for training and exercises for a minimum of two weeks. On 26/11, he confirmed that all affected personnel had received comprehensive medical care and would continue to be monitored.

Ajax armored vehicle at Lulworth training ground in the UK in 2023. *Photo: UK Ministry of Defense*

This is not the first time the Ajax program has faced scrutiny. The UK announced on 6/11 that the armored vehicle had achieved initial operational capability (IOC), a significant eight years behind schedule. This certification followed multiple rounds of new testing, prompted by earlier concerns that excessive vibration within the vehicle had led to hearing loss in some military personnel.

Pollard had previously informed members of parliament that before the Ajax series received its IOC certification, he had received "written assurances" from senior Ministry of Defense officials regarding the vehicle's safety. However, he did not initially disclose specific names. On 2/12, Pollard named General Roly Walker, chief of the general staff of the British Army, and "the national armaments director at the time," believed to be Andy Start, who recently departed the position, as individuals involved in these assurances.

Member of Parliament Derek Twigg questioned the reliability of these earlier reports, telling Pollard that "clearly someone misunderstood what happened, as he reported to you that everything was fine." Pollard acknowledged these concerns, replying, "I want to see the results, but I share the concern you raised," adding that he anticipates receiving preliminary investigation results from the army soon.

Despite the recent incidents, a UK Ministry of Defense spokesperson stated on 1/12 that officials had found no "systemic issues" during extensive testing of the Ajax series, which covered over 42,000 km. This data was cited as a basis for the IOC recommendation, though the agency declined to explain why vibration issues have now resurfaced. Manufactured by General Dynamics, the Ajax is described by the UK Ministry of Defense as an armored vehicle model "possessing a wide range of modern weapons and sensors, capable of reconnaissance to identify enemy targets on the battlefield, providing a combat advantage" for the country's military.

The Ajax armored vehicle is intended to be a core component of the British Army's deep reconnaissance strike and armored brigades. The force has already taken delivery of over 160 armored vehicles out of a total order of 589.

Pham Giang (According to Breaking Defense)