British soldiers will finally be able to deploy the Ajax armoured fighting vehicle following its declaration of Initial Operating Capability (IOC), a decade after the first prototype was unveiled.
In late July 2024, the Labour Government set a timeline to achieve IOC for the armoured cavalry programme by December 2025.
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The IOC, which has now been achieved a month earlier than that timeline, allows the British Army to field a squadron equipped with the new medium-weight vehicle. This marks the first introduction of such equipment in almost 30 years.
The Ajax programme is a collaboration between the British Army, Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), and General Dynamics UK (GDUK).
Its production has been taking place at Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, and involves a supply chain of more than 230 companies across the UK.
More than 4,100 workers have contributed to building the fleet, which will consist of 589 tracked all-terrain vehicles in six variants.
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By GlobalDataAccording to a UK Parliament report from March 2023, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had a fixed-price contract worth £5.5bn ($7.2bn) with GDUK for the delivery of these vehicles.
Ajax is intended to serve both the Armoured and Deep Recce Strike Brigade by providing reconnaissance capabilities through advanced sensors and a cased telescoped 40mm cannon.
To achieve IOC, Ajax underwent extensive testing by the Household Cavalry Regiment in Bulford, Wiltshire. Evaluation included firing more than 20,000 rounds from its main weapon system, operational mobility exercises covering more than 42,000 kilometres (km), training in various climates abroad, and live-fire manoeuvres.
National Armaments Director Rupert Pearce said: “Ajax represents a transformational capability for UK defence, delivered by thousands of skilled workers across Britain. This armoured fighting vehicle strengthens our Armed Forces while supporting economic activity through our defence industrial base from South Wales to the wider supply chain.”
The Ajax programme has faced challenges including vibration issues and delivery delays, leading to ongoing scrutiny as it approached full operational status.
The IOC standard vehicle is known as Capability Drop 3 and serves as the deployable configuration ahead of further development and integration under Capability Drop 4 or Full Operating Capability (FOC).
Initiated in 2010, the programme aims to provide the British Army with digitised platforms to replace the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) [CVR(T)] family, which entered service in 1971.
Ajax supports broader government objectives related to economic growth and aligns with commitments made in recent defence spending plans.
The programme is backed by an investment of £41bn in Army equipment and support over the next decade and aims to improve battlefield effectiveness through surveillance technology, digital systems, and enhanced firepower.
In addition to its domestic role, Ajax is being considered for export to international customers.
This follows recent announcements of UK defence export deals valued at up to £18bn, including contracts for Type 26 frigates for Norway and Typhoon fighter jets for Türkiye.
UK Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard said: “Defence is an engine for growth. Ajax contributes not only to the economy in South Wales but also across the UK supply chain. We are exploring potential export opportunities for Ajax.”
According to recent official figures, the UK’s armoured cavalry programme is scheduled to deliver an additional 55 Ajax-series armoured vehicles between July and December 2025, bringing the total number delivered in 2025 to 128 units.
In September 2025 the UK Ministry of Defence announced that a further 110 Ajax platforms are planned for delivery in 2026, with the remaining 297 vehicles expected to be delivered by 2028.
