Ajax trials paused after another injury prompts safety investigations

The Ministry of Defence has paused all Ajax armoured-vehicle trials after another soldier fell ill during testing in a separate vehicle, triggering renewed scrutiny of a programme already beset by safety concerns and delays. The pause comes as three investigations are under way into injuries linked to noise and vibration experienced by about 30 soldiers during a November training exercise, with 23 Ajax vehicles already suspended from use as inspectors assess potential faults.

During safety trials intended to gather more information for the ongoing inquiries, a soldier reported illness from vibration in a vehicle not among the 23 that have been suspended. The defence minister said the soldier did not require hospitalisation, and the vehicle involved is undergoing a thorough investigation. In a written statement to Parliament, Luke Pollard said the incident underscored “a serious concern” and, out of an abundance of caution, he directed a pause on all Ajax trials. He cautioned that this pause is in addition to the ongoing pause for training and exercising, and he would assess whether trials could be restarted in the New Year. Investigations must have time and space to consider all evidence, he added, and he noted he had met with General Dynamics, the vehicle’s builder, in the previous week.

The announcement drew responses from Welsh authorities and opposition MPs, who emphasised safety as the priority while acknowledging the programme’s impact on jobs in Wales. Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens told the BBC that the most important consideration is to ensure equipment is safe for use. She noted that several reviews are underway and that General Dynamics is a significant employer in Merthyr Tydfil, where the programme is based. Merthyr Tydfil MP Gerald Jones urged a timely ministerial meeting with staff and unions to provide reassurance about job security and safety.

The Ajax programme, developed by General Dynamics, has faced long delays and controversy since its inception. The vehicles were originally slated to enter service in the late 2010s, with 589 units planned at a multi-billion-pound cost of about £6.3 billion. The project has repeatedly fallen short of milestones, with injuries tied to noise and vibration during trials raising questions about design and safety. Pollard has voiced his outrage over injuries that followed assurances of safety and has described the situation as unacceptable for service personnel.

Three investigations are currently active: the Defence Accident Investigation Branch, the Army’s safety investigation team, and a ministerial review. Regular meetings have been held among the defence minister, the Chief of the General Staff, Army leadership, and officials. BBC reporting indicates General Dynamics representatives have also engaged with backbench MPs in recent days, reflecting the high political and regional interest in the programme, including potential impacts on jobs in Merthyr Tydfil and surrounding areas.

Pollard said findings from the Ajax inquiries would influence decisions in the UK government’s defence investment planning, underscoring the link between safety, capability, and long-term budgets. Defence Secretary John Healey has said that programmes beset by deep-rooted failures, such as Ajax, have delayed the government’s defence investment plan, which had been due for publication in the autumn and will now be pushed to 2026. This delay complicates attempts to map out spending to overhaul the armed forces in a period of heightened security concerns.

The Ajax vehicles, built in Merthyr Tydfil by General Dynamics, are a centerpiece of the UK’s modernisation efforts but have been dogged by safety concerns since testing began. The project is sometimes described as the most expensive and controversial element of the Ministry of Defence’s current equipment programme, with persistent questions about cost overruns, timelines, and suitability for civic and military use. The government has stressed that safety must come first, even as MPs in Wales and elsewhere weigh the potential jobs impact if the project stalls or is scrapped.

In Merthyr Tydfil, the workforce is a visible symbol of the stakes surrounding Ajax. Local MPs and unions have urged that any disruption to production or possible cancellation be accompanied by robust plans to preserve skilled jobs and maintain the site’s role in future military development opportunities. The government’s handling of the Ajax matter will be closely watched as ministers weigh how to balance safety, industrial capability, and national security priorities in the coming year.

The pause and the ongoing investigations arrive at a time when the defence department is trying to provide clarity on a programme that has grown emblematic of the challenges facing modern military procurement: balancing ambitious capabilities with rigorous safety standards, while managing regional economic consequences and the political optics of a high-profile defence project.

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As the New Year approaches, government and industry officials say the priority remains ensuring that any Ajax trials or remaining testing are conducted with the utmost safety and rigorous oversight. The question going forward will be whether identified issues can be resolved within a revised timetable or whether broader strategic decisions will be required to safeguard personnel and regional livelihoods while maintaining the country’s defence objectives.