General Dynamics Delivers 100th Ajax Armoured Vehicle, Marking Major Milestone for British Army

General Dynamics UK has successfully delivered the 100th Ajax armoured vehicle to the British Army, signalling a key step forward in one of the UK’s most ambitious defence programmes. This latest vehicle, featuring a turret-mounted 40mm cannon, will be deployed with the Household Cavalry Regiment and reflects the latest operational standard set for the fleet.

Launched in 2010, the Ajax programme aims to supply the British Army with 589 state-of-the-art armoured vehicles in several specialized variants. These include reconnaissance vehicles, command and personnel carriers, engineering and recovery platforms. The overall cost of the programme stands at £5.5 billion, making it one of the most significant investments in modernising UK land forces.

Out of the total planned, the UK has ordered 245 Ajax reconnaissance variants equipped with the powerful 40mm cannon. Additional variants include 50 Apollo repair vehicles, 93 Ares personnel carriers, 112 Athena command vehicles, 38 Atlas recovery vehicles, and 51 Argus engineering reconnaissance vehicles.

As of March 2025, the Ministry of Defence has formally accepted 91 vehicles from the Ajax family. Production is now set to accelerate, with 446 vehicles scheduled for delivery between 2024 and 2028. The remaining 143 units, which have already been built to earlier standards, will be upgraded by 2029 to meet the latest requirements. The programme is expected to reach its peak production in 2027, when 125 vehicles are set to be delivered.

The Ajax programme has not been without challenges. Deliveries were paused in 2020 after serious design flaws came to light, including dangerous levels of noise and vibration that posed risks to soldier health, along with technical issues such as inaccurate weapon systems and dimensional faults.

After years of investigation and redesign, these problems were resolved by 2023, allowing deliveries and payments to resume. Since then, the programme has regained momentum, and the handover of the 100th vehicle stands as a clear sign of recovery and progress.

The continued delivery of Ajax vehicles will play a crucial role in enhancing the operational capabilities of the British Army’s strike brigades, providing them with modern, versatile, and highly mobile armoured platforms for future battlefield requirements.