British Army Halts New £10m Ajax Tanks After Soldiers Suffer Hearing and Vibration Woes
The British Army has slammed the brakes on its cutting-edge Ajax armoured fighting vehicles after around 30 soldiers reported vibration and hearing problems during a tough training exercise. The drill was “immediately stopped” once symptoms appeared, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed.
Household Cavalry and Royal Lancers Worst Hit
Troops from the Household Cavalry and Royal Lancers spent 10 to 15 hours cramped inside the Ajax machines, triggering health issues. Two soldiers were hit so badly they were medically downgraded and banned from overseas deployment, The Times reports.
MoD Orders Precautionary Two-Week Freeze for Safety Review
Defence Readiness Minister Luke Pollard called a two-week halt “out of an abundance of caution.” Most of the affected soldiers have been cleared medically, but a few still require specialist care. Limited testing will continue to hunt down and fix the technical glitches.
Ajax: The £10m Beast Still Wrestling with Noise and Vibration Problems
Each Ajax vehicle costs nearly £10 million and weighs over 40 tonnes. Noise and vibration issues have plagued the expensive £5.8 billion fleet during trials.
The Army aims to buy 589 of these hulking beasts, with full delivery targeted by 2030 — but only once the health hazards are sorted.
