British companies get green light to press ahead with new Army vehicle plans, Defence Minister announces
Production of the £4.5 billion Ajax family of armoured vehicles is already ramping up, and they are set to enter service in 2020. The Defence Minister also revealed today that Lockheed Martin UK has successfully delivered the first eight production turrets to Ajax’s prime contractor, General Dynamics Land Systems.
Lockheed Martin UK is under contract to manufacture, test and certify 245 turrets for the reconnaissance variant of the Ajax fleet at its multi-million pound Ampthill site, which is just a five minute drive from the testing centre which hosts DVD.
While at the show the Minister also revealed that the MOD has recently taken delivery of the 200th Cased Telescope cannon – the innovative weapon, developed between UK and French industry, which will provide the stopping power for the armed Ajax variant, as well as the upgraded Warrior vehicle being developed through an MOD Capability Sustainment Programme.
DVD 2018: GDLS UK displays first production standard Ajax variants
General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) UK displayed the first four production standard variants of the Ajax armoured fighting vehicle at the DVD 2018 exhibition held at the UK’s Millbrook Proving Ground on 19-20 September.
GDLS UK Vice-President Kevin Connell told Jane’s on 19 September, “The first production standard Ares will be delivered in Q4 this year.” The company displayed the first production standard Ajax reconnaissance, Apollo command and control, Ares personnel carrier, and Atlas repair vehicles at DVD 2018.
Connell explained that reliability growth trials are due to start in the fourth quarter of 2018.
Also on 19 September, Lockheed Martin UK announced that it had delivered the first eight production standard Ajax turrets to GDLS UK, full-rate production of which is expected to be reached in 2019.
The key risk to project affordability and delivery is within the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme which is currently forecasting a delay in the Demonstration Phase which creates inflationary cost growth in the Manufacture Phase.
British Army receives first production Ajax vehicles
Without much fanfare the UK MoD has taken delivery of the first two production standard Ajax Ares variants, Shephard has learnt.
The two vehicles were delivered to the Acceptance and Testing Team for Government Acceptance Tests (GAT) in December 2018. Two further Ares variants are to be delivered by the ...