Shaken, not stirred

The british Army has completely discontinued use of the Ajax vehicle—a move that insiders view as a significant setback for the program's already problematic safety record.

This decision came just days after the Department of Defense repeatedly emphasized the safety of the £5.5 billion protected vehicle. This followed BFBS Forces News reporting that three members of the Household Cavalry Regiment were to be discharged from service for medical reasons after working on the platform.

According to reports in The Times, the decision to decommission the fleet was made after 31 soldiers fell ill during the “Iron Fist” exercise on Salisbury Plain after spending between 10 and 15 hours in the vehicles. The Ministry of Defense confirmed that some of these soldiers are still receiving medical care.

A source informed BFBS Forces News that an urgent “Electronic Safety Notice” was issued to the entire army on Monday, prohibiting the use of the vehicle for the next two weeks while an investigation is launched. The Ajax program has struggled with significant safety issues since its testing phase, resulting in an eight-year delay in the delivery schedule.