Ajax Blackjax Unveiled with Hybrid Protection and Advanced Firepower at DSEI 2025
London, September 2025 : At the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) 2025 exhibition in London, General Dynamics Land Systems showcased its latest innovation in tracked armored vehicles – the Ajax Blackjax technology demonstrator. The new concept, unofficially known as Ajax Blackjack, represents the next phase of development in the Ajax family, a platform already marking significant progress in modern battlefield systems. Designed with spiral development principles, the Blackjax aims to continually enhance operational capabilities through iterative upgrades, testing, and integration of emerging technologies.
The Ajax Blackjax is built to offer battlefield adaptability and enhanced lethality while retaining flexibility for future requirements. A standout feature of this demonstrator is its Modular Integrated Protection System (MIPS), which combines the Trophy active protection sensor head with the Iron Fist interceptors, creating a hybrid architecture designed to counter a wide spectrum of threats, from anti-tank guided missiles to drones. The platform’s turret has been modified to allow the gun to elevate up to 85 degrees, expanding its mission beyond conventional ground engagements and enabling potential roles in short-range air defense.
Equipped with composite rubber tracks, the Blackjax addresses previous mobility challenges faced by its predecessors, reducing vibration and noise while improving cross-terrain performance. The gun system, centered around the 40 mm Cased Telescoped Armament System (CTAS) cannon, features programmable airburst ammunition capable of engaging fast-moving aerial targets. The integration of these systems suggests a hybrid role, combining reconnaissance, direct fire support, and counter-drone capabilities.
This development comes as the British Army continues to induct its initial Ajax reconnaissance vehicles. Following extensive delays, including trials suspended between 2020 and 2022 due to technical and health concerns, deliveries began in January 2025. The Ajax program, originally conceived from the ASCOD 2 chassis in the UK’s Future Rapid Effect System of the early 2010s, involves 589 vehicles across six variants, supporting over 4,000 UK jobs through a largely domestic supply chain.
In parallel with the British rollout, Ajax made its debut in Poland during the MSPO 2025 defense exhibition in Kielce. With the Polish military actively pursuing modernization efforts, the platform’s modular chassis and adaptability have attracted significant interest, particularly in complementing existing heavy tracked fleets such as the Abrams Main Battle Tanks. The Ajax is reportedly being considered for integration with Poland’s CBWP heavy infantry fighting vehicle program, potentially incorporating the domestically developed ZSSW-30 turret system.
Ajax’s electronics backbone is a key enabler of its advanced capabilities. With a 20 Gbit/s Ethernet architecture and up to six terabytes of onboard data storage, the platform supports seamless sensor integration and data distribution through the Bowman communication system. Automated search, detection, and tracking systems, along with a silent auxiliary power unit for stationary operations, enhance survivability and operational efficiency.
General Dynamics envisions further evolution of the platform with potential variants including a direct-fire vehicle armed with a 120 mm cannon, a mortar carrier, logistics and support vehicles, and ambulances. The Blackjax demonstrator serves as a proof of concept for these capabilities, highlighting how modular designs can adapt to emerging threats and battlefield requirements.
As global defense forces increasingly seek multi-role platforms capable of integrating new systems and technologies, the Ajax Blackjax offers a glimpse into the future of armored warfare—one where protection, firepower, and mobility converge into a flexible and resilient solution. Its unveiling at DSEI 2025 signals a turning point in tracked vehicle design and positions Ajax as a cornerstone for both the British Army’s modernization and international defense collaborations.
