The British Army has been compelled to suspend all training with its new fleet of Ajax armoured vehicles following alarming reports from troops who experienced severe physical symptoms, including uncontrollable shaking and vomiting, after operating the equipment.
Severe Physical Symptoms Halt Military Exercises
This decisive action comes after an exercise last weekend, known as Operation Iron Fist, on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire. Approximately 31 soldiers from the prestigious Household Cavalry and the Royal Lancers regiments reported adverse health effects after spending extended periods of between 10 and 15 hours inside the £10 million vehicles.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that the use of the Ajax vehicles has been put on hold and all related exercises have been cancelled. The symptoms reported by personnel are not new; similar noise and vibration problems were identified during trials in the summer. Defence sources cited complaints including headaches, loss of balance, motion sickness, and tinnitus.
A Troubled Procurement History
The suspension is a significant setback for the £6.3 billion Ministry of Defence project, which aims to build 589 of these advanced armoured fighting vehicles. The Ajax programme has been plagued by delays, arriving eight years behind its original schedule. It was only on November 5 that the vehicles were formally declared ready for deployment.
The project's difficulties have had serious consequences for military personnel. According to reports, two Army members were so severely affected that they were medically downgraded and prevented from serving overseas. Another three troops are expected to be medically discharged from the military due to problems encountered last year.
Official Reassurances Contradicted by Events
The timing of this new safety alert is particularly awkward for the Ministry of Defence. Just earlier this month, Defence Minister Luke Pollard participated in an unveiling event for the Ajax vehicles, which are produced by General Dynamics at its plant in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. During that event, Mr. Pollard publicly stated that the vehicles were safe for operations and that previous concerns were "firmly in the past".
He told reporters at the time, "We would not be putting it in the hands of our armed forces if it were not safe." This recent incident, occurring so soon after these assurances, has raised new and serious questions about the vehicle's safety protocols.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson stated: "The safety of our personnel is our top priority... Out of an abundance of caution, the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry has asked the Army to pause all use of Ajax for training and exercising for two weeks, while a safety investigation is carried out." A limited amount of testing will continue to identify and resolve the underlying issues.
