The company behind the troubled Ajax armoured vehicle, General Dynamics, was paid more than £12 million by the Ministry of Defence during the period when trials were paused, according to newly obtained data. The payments, made between late November and this week, highlight ongoing dysfunction in national defence procurement.
Payments Continued Despite Safety Concerns
The bulk of General Dynamics' recent income from the MoD came in January, allocated for construction and research spending. While payments were suspended for 27 months between 2020 and 2023 due to safety failures, the MoD has continued to fund the US defence giant over the past three months. The British subsidiary, headquartered in Wales, has faced criticism over tanks that have caused dozens of soldiers to fall ill due to excessive noise and vibration.
Investigation and Resumption of Trials
Trials for the £6.3 billion Ajax programme were paused last November, prompting a ministerial investigation. Defence procurement minister Luke Pollard stated that symptoms resulted from a combination of technical issues, training, and environmental conditions. Testing resumed this week under a “phased and carefully controlled approach,” as described by General Dynamics.
The payments raise deeper questions about the government’s relationship with the defence industry and the design of procurement rules. Sir Keir Starmer’s Defence Investment Plan has yet to provide details on how Labour intends to upgrade the armed forces.
Political and Military Reactions
The Ajax programme has divided opinion among MPs and military officials. Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former army director, supports the programme, calling it crucial for UK war preparedness. However, Labour MPs John Spellar and Chris Evans have questioned whether “enough is enough” and called for government intervention to address “fundamental problems.”
General Dynamics faced additional scrutiny after manager Bob Skivington appeared to mock troops for “incompetence.” The programme has encountered repeated issues since the contract was awarded in 2010. Small numbers of vehicles were delivered in the early years, and soldiers reported problems as far back as 2019. Trials were paused in 2020, and the National Audit Office labelled Ajax “systematically flawed” in a 2022 report. A “reset” in 2023 has failed to produce markedly improved outcomes.
Contract and Future Deliveries
The MoD ordered 589 vehicles, with delivery expected by 2029. A General Dynamics spokesman expressed “confidence” in the Ajax vehicles, describing them as the world’s “most advanced, fully digitised armoured fighting vehicle.” The company declined to comment on its contract but welcomed the Army Safety Investigation Team’s conclusions and the decision to resume operations under a controlled approach. “The safety of soldiers is, and has always been, our highest priority,” the statement added.
An MoD spokesperson said: “All payments to General Dynamics are reviewed to ensure they are appropriately evidenced in line with the contract. We will continue to work with General Dynamics to proceed safely, responsibly, and transparently to deliver an improved Ajax user experience for our soldiers.”
