Army Forced to Halt Training Following Soldier Illness
The British Army has been compelled to pause all training and exercises involving its new Ajax armoured vehicles for a period of two weeks. This decisive action comes after approximately 30 soldiers reported becoming unwell, with symptoms including severe vomiting and uncontrollable shaking, during war games on Salisbury Plain.
A Troubled Programme Plagued by Delays and Defects
The recent incident is the latest in a long line of setbacks for the £6.3bn Ajax programme. The vehicles, which are eight years behind their original delivery schedule, have been plagued by excessive noise and vibration issues since initial demonstrations in 2020 and 2021. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed the pause, stating it was initiated 'out of an abundance of caution' by defence minister Luke Pollard.
This intervention is particularly notable as Pollard had recently claimed the programme had 'left its troubles behind' after declaring initial operating capability earlier this month. The first 50 vehicles, costing nearly £10 million each, were said to be ready for deployment on NATO's eastern flank.
Ongoing Health Concerns and Historical Problems
This is not the first time the Ajax has caused health problems for personnel. Previous testing was halted after 11 soldiers required long-term medical monitoring for issues like tinnitus and hearing loss. Defence expert Professor Michael Clarke highlighted the gravity of the situation, telling Sky News: "You can’t introduce something into the battlefield if 10% of your crew are going to get ill."
He further emphasised that the army is under pressure to make the Ajax work, as there are no readily available alternatives and insufficient time to scrap the project and start anew. The MoD has ordered 589 Ajax vehicles and their variants, with full delivery not expected until the end of the decade.
A spokesperson for the MoD stated that while the 'vast majority' of the affected soldiers have been cleared for duty, a 'small number of personnel continue to receive expert medical care'. A limited amount of testing will continue in an effort to identify and resolve the fundamental issues causing the sickness.
