Recommendation 5

The Department is placing unrealistic expectations on how soldiers operate Ajax vehicles safely when it has still not resolved the underlying noise and vibration issues. In November 2025 Exercise TITAN STORM was stopped when 33 soldiers reported symptoms from noise and vibration after operating in Ajax armoured vehicles. Five soldiers were still under medical review when the Department appeared before the Committee in March 2026. The Department claimed that Ajax is safe when operated and maintained correctly within its design parameters but did not explain clearly how this exercise had exceeded those limitations. The Department now expects soldiers to do maintenance checks every time they stop the vehicle, but that seems unreasonable, particularly as soldiers may need to use vehicles for long periods in combat. The need for our soldiers to develop and maintain the skills they require to operate on armoured vehicles is clear, but those vehicles must be fit for purpose. The Department is developing an ‘Ajax 2’ package of upgrades, including composite rubber tracks and 5 automatic track tensioners. These are intended to make Ajax a more comfortable ride for its crew and to improve the lived experience of our soldiers. The Department did not tell us the likely costs of these upgrades and we wait to see, more in hope than in expectation, whether these endeavours will succeed. recommendation The Department should: a. Explain why it believes the current required operating parameters and restrictions for Ajax vehicles are realistic and appropriate, given the nature of the tasks those vehicles and their crews are expected to undertake both in training and on the battlefield. b. Provide a detailed memorandum which sets out precisely how much the Department will pay for Ajax. The memorandum should also include details of: • How much the manufacturer will pay for the delays in delivering a vehicle that is fit for purpose; • The cost of modifications, including the ‘Ajax 2’ enha