Although it is no longer an empire dominating the world, the UK is still an important country
with political power and continuing its military operations in many parts of the world. With
the Ajax, the British Army has taken an important step to maintain its effectiveness in the
new period. But, presently, we also began to hear some setbacks about the vehicle. As
the Weapon Detective, we are investigating the Ajax as a symbol of change and its current
problems. Please don't forget to subscribe to our channel,
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our channel. As the fruit of the Scout SV Programme, the
Ajax and its related variants have a different design than the predecessor, the Combat Vehicle
Reconnaissance Tracked, shortly CVR(T), family. This design change gives clues about future
threat perceptions of the UK. Different from our previous video, now we will also mention
the recent problems of the vehicle. The CVR(T) family has played an important
role in all of the UK's overseas operations since 1971. However, efforts for the replacement
of these vehicles were not new. The UK had started working on a new vehicle to replace
them in the 1980s. However, due to the changing military needs and financial cuts with the
end of the First Cold War, the project was cancelled several times and restarted under
different names. After this period of uncertainty, a contract
was signed with General Dynamics for the development of the new vehicle in 2010.
The ASCOD 2 based system was called Scout Special Vehicle, or Scout SV.
The first pre-production prototype of the vehicle was unveiled in 2015. It was built
at General Dynamics' facilities in Spain. The same year, the vehicle was named the Ajax.
23 of 245 Ajaxes ordered by the British Army will have artillery forward observation systems,
and 24 vehicles will be equipped with ground observation radar.
The protected mobility recce support version of the Ajax is called the Ares. This vehicle
carries a four-person recon team. The Ares is equipped with only the Protector RCWS.
Also, there are several other variants. The Athena is the command and control version
of the family. The Argus is developed for combat engineer
reconnaissance missions. The Apollo is a maintenance variant, and the
Atlas is a recovery version of the family. Also, General Dynamics UK developed a bridge
layer variant of the vehicle. The programme will provide new jobs for the
British defence industry. Although the vehicle is based on the ASCOD vehicle of General Dynamics
European Land Systems, the Ajax and its variants will not be produced at the company's facilities
in Spain. General Dynamics has founded a new subsidiary, General Dynamics UK, to move the
production of the last 489 vehicles to Britain. 80 per cent of the vehicle manufacture will
be completed in the UK, with 70 per cent of the supply chain companies will be UK-based.
The Ajax is designed to easily adapt to changing combat needs. With a standard combat weight
of 38 tons, the vehicle's engine and suspension capacity are suitable for 42 tons of weight.
Thus, the Ajax can be equipped with new armour solutions and active protection systems without
the need for structural changes. This design will also make it easier for the vehicle to
incorporate many new technologies that are currently under development.
The three-person crew of the Ajax consists of a commander, gunner, and driver. The vehicle
has a length of 7.6 metres, a width of 3.33 metres, and a height of 2.98 metres. Of course,
this height does not include the remote-controlled weapon station. In standard configuration,
its combat weight is about 38 tons. But with an additional armour pack, this weight can
be increased to 42 tons. The 805 horsepower MTU 8V 199 TE21 diesel engine provides a maximum
speed of 70 kilometres per hour. The road range of the Ajax is 500 kilometres. The vehicle
can negotiate 0.75-metre vertical steps and 2.5-metre trenches. The armament of the vehicle
consists of one 40mm cannon and two 7.62mm machine guns.
The hull and the turret of the Ajax are resistant against 14.5mm ammunition. Thanks to its modular
structure, the vehicle can be equipped with additional armour packages to increase ballistic
protection. The modular structure also allows for damaged additional armour blocks to be
replaced quickly and easily in field conditions. To increase survivability, the vehicle is
also fitted with laser warning receivers, missile warning sensors, and infrared jammer.
But, currently, the Ajax is not fitted with an active protection system.
The Ajax has acoustic detection systems and cameras that increase situational awareness.
The landmine protection level of the vehicle has not been officially announced. But it
is estimated that the vehicle is resistant against landmines containing explosives equivalent
to 8 to 10 kilograms of TNT. The diameter of the turret ring is 1.7 metres.
Thus, the commander and the gunner located inside the turret have a larger workspace
than similar types of armoured vehicles. The main gun of the Ajax, the CT40 cannon,
fires telescoped ammunition, which is smaller than conventional munitions. Thus, they require
smaller space to be stored, and the vehicle can carry more ammunition.
The turret is controlled electronically. The ballistic computer software can control the
use of ammunition. When required, ammunition types can be switched in less than 3 seconds.
The rate of fire of the CT40 is 180 rounds per minute.
The turret is stabilized. But, during the trials, it was observed that while moving,
the excessive vibration level of the Ajax was also damaging electronic systems, including
the turret stabilising system. Also, the vehicle could not fire while moving, due to its insufficient
suspensions. We should admit that this is a serious problem for, especially a reconnaissance
and strike vehicle. The fully stabilized Protector remote-controlled
weapons station, shortly RCWS, can be fitted instead of the Orion primary sight. Both the
commander and the gunner can watch all views come from the Protector's electro-optics.
The high position of the RCWS brings some advantages. First of all, the machine gun
on the Protector helps to eliminate potential threats placed near the vehicle, leaving fewer
blind spots. Also, thanks to fully stabilized RCWS, while
the gunner tracks a target with the main gun, the commander can simultaneously engage in
another target. Yet, the vibration problem is also affecting the electronics and stabilization
system of the Protector. Depending on the mission definition, the modular
Protector can be equipped with 12.7mm machine guns or 40mm automatic grenade launchers.
This provides flexibility in an operation. The Protector's manufacturer, Kongsberg, has
also proved that this RCWS can be successfully used against unmanned aerial vehicles in a
trial conducted in early 2020. The Ajax is equipped with a state-of-the-art
Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance, shorty ISTAR, package
with advanced sensors. This advanced ISTAR package allows for automated search, tracking
and detection, more than doubling the stand-off range at which targets can be identified and
tracked. The Orion primary sight system was developed
by Thales UK. This sight has a 360-degree continuous rotation capability with two-axis
stabilisation. So, the crew can observe the field on the move.
Thanks to the integrated BOWMAN communication system, the Ajax can share the reconnaissance
data in real-time with other elements, like the Challenger 2 main battle tank and Warrior
armoured vehicles, as well as air units. So, an Apache helicopter can engage in detected
enemy formation without losing time. Or while they are still in the air, the heliborne
troops can be directed to the right position by using the latest reconnaissance data.
The BOWMAN will be replaced by the more capable next-generation MORPHEUS tactical C4 system
in near future. Power for all electronic and electro-optic
systems comes from a silent auxiliary power generator. So, even while the diesel engine
is not running, the Ajax can operate its electronics. According to trials reports, the Ajax has
very serious vibration and noise problems. Some reports even claim that the high noise
level can cause a permanent hearing problem for the crew. To solve this, the crew has
to wear noise-cancelling headphones. Yet, this was not enough. The trials of the
vehicle were halted for five months, starting in November 2020. It is reported that excessive
vibration and noise levels cause nausea, swollen joints and tinnitus. To prevent these, the
British Army limited the time for the crew to 105 minutes inside. Also, the speed of
the Ajax has been limited to 32 kilometres per hour during the trials.
As we mentioned before, the vibration damages the electronic systems. So, in a long term
mission, the Ajax may lose its surveillance capability and weapon stabilization.
Also, the suspensions are problematic. They cannot absorb the recoil effect when the vehicle
is on the move. It is reported that the Ajax cannot reverse
over obstacles more than 20 centimetres high. These are serious problems. To solve them,
expensive redesign works have to be done. But, no one is sure whether the UK intend
to spend money to overcome these problems. The problems may cause the cancellation of
the programme. Also, we should remember that the vehicle
is rather heavy compared to the CVR(T) it will replace. The CVR(T) family has carried
out important tasks as the quick reaction force of the UK for many years. They could
be transported easily and quickly by the C-130 aircraft and the Chinook helicopters.
However, currently, the Royal Air Force has the C-17 as the only aircraft that can transport
a fully-loaded Ajax. With 37 tons load capacity, even the A400M
is unable to transport this vehicle with its full combat load.
This will result in a significant decrease in the quick reaction capability of the British
Army. We can reach several conclusions here.
First, the UK no longer plans to intervene in some areas on its own.
For quick reaction capability, it plans to take advantage of the transport facilities
of NATO or the USA. Secondly, the Second Cold War is rising, and
the British Army is preparing itself for a possible conventional conflict.
The CVR(T) family, which was designed in the late 1960s, is now obsolete against today’s
potential enemy vehicles with heavy weapons and armour protection.
Also, the new hybrid warfare concept requires more protected vehicles, even against the
guerilla and terrorist groups. The CVR(T) family does not provide sufficient
survivability. However, when we look at the combat experiences, it is seen that these
vehicles have not suffered tragic losses. Another criticism about the Ajax is that it
doesn't have anti-tank capability. But, in a recon mission, destroying some enemy tanks
in specific areas has potential, which can change the course of the battle.
The CT40 cannon has an effective range of 2,500 metres.
And please remember that on a modern battlefield, an anti-tank guided missile is not only an
anti-tank weapon but also a guided artillery round.
The British Army learnt this lesson in the 1982 Falkland War.
As seen in the trials conducted in 2016, the Javelin anti-tank missile used by the British
Army is still effective at 4,300 meters. And a Javelin equipped Ajax can leave the area
unseen immediately after firing this fire-and-forget capable missile in defilade. This would be
a precious capability for the vehicle. As a solution to this problem, General Dynamics
UK introduced the Ajax's Overwatch variant equipped with the Brimstone anti-tank missiles.
It is not yet known whether the British Army will order this model.
We should add that many countries in Southeast Asia and Africa also plan to replace their
CVR(T) family vehicles. These countries have soft ground.
So, the heavy Ajax is not a favourite alternative for this potential market.
The loss of the UK's traditional market may put the defence industry in a difficult situation
in the long period. The Ajax Programme, which came with high hopes,
is now experiencing serious problems. The UK, which invented the tank and gained huge
successes with its indigenous vehicles in the international market, now adopts foreign
armoured vehicles rather than developing them. The fate of the new armour of the crown, the
Ajax, will also show us the fate of the future of the British land system design and production
capability. The time will tell if it would rise again.
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