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All trials of Ajax armoured vehicles halted after another soldier injured
About 30 soldiers suffered noise and vibration symptoms during exercises, prompting a pause in trials and multiple investigations into the £6.3 billion Ajax vehicle programme.
- On Thursday the Ministry of Defence paused all Ajax armoured vehicle reliability growth trials after a soldier reported vibration symptoms and did not require hospitalisation.
- Following reports from the late-November training, probes found soldiers with symptoms operated across 23 suspended vehicles, while reliability growth trials continued providing data for safety investigations.
- Inspectors completed a 45-point check on involved vehicles, and the remaining 10 will be tested before ministers are briefed in the New Year.
- Rupert Pearce, National Armaments Director, told MPs investigations are ongoing and any contractual action will depend on their findings, while the MoD said it has "strong rights in our contract" and General Dynamics, prime contractor, is not yet in breach.
- The programme's history shows the �6.3bn Ajax programme has faced delays and injuries, an internal review found officials knew earlier faults, and each Ajax costs nearly �10m with 589 vehicles ordered by 2030.
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UK says General Dynamics currently ‘not in breach’ on Ajax
The Ministry of Defence has said that General Dynamics is not currently in breach of its contract for the Ajax armoured vehicle programme, despite renewed concerns over safety, vibration issues and operational viability raised in Parliament. Appearing before the Defence Committee, the National Armaments Director Rupert Pearce told MPs that investigations into recent incidents involving Ajax vehicles were still ongoing and that any contractual ac…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources11
Leaning Left1Leaning Right0Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution83% Center
Bias Distribution
- 83% of the sources are Center
83% Center
L 17%
C 83%
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