In a desperate final attempt to salvage the beleaguered £6.3 billion Ajax armoured vehicle programme, defence chiefs have begun testing new rubber tracks. This move comes after yet another soldier was injured during trials, exacerbating the project's long-standing crisis.
A Project Plagued by Problems
The Ajax vehicle, which was supposed to enter service back in 2017, has been repeatedly delayed due to severe technical faults. Former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace famously branded the endeavour 'a ridiculous project'. The core issues centre on excessive noise and vibration from its standard steel tracks, which have caused significant harm to personnel.
Scores of soldiers have developed hearing loss and other health problems, with some careers ended prematurely. A number have been diagnosed with Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome, known as 'white finger', a painful nerve and blood vessel disorder. Procurement Minister Luke Pollard confirmed last week that trials with steel tracks were paused after the latest reported injury.
The Rubber Track Solution: 'Blackjax'
The Army is now experimenting with a Composite Rubber Track (CRT), codenamed 'Blackjax'. This technology uses a continuous band of rubber reinforced with steel cords and carbon tubes. It offers several potential advantages:
- Significantly reduced noise and vibration for the crew.
- Lighter weight, which can improve fuel economy.
- Proven success on other nations' armoured vehicles, like the Norwegian CV90 and Australian Redback.
Remarkably, a whistleblower recommended rubber tracks as far back as 2019 when development issues first arose, but the idea was rejected at the time as too costly.
Billions at Stake and Mounting Pressure
With the entire Ajax fleet facing the axe and the prospect of a monumental write-off for taxpayers, the Ministry of Defence is revisiting every option. Four separate government investigations are currently assessing the vehicle's viability. Mr Pollard has held crisis talks with the manufacturer, General Dynamics UK.
The situation reached a new urgency last month when around 30 soldiers became ill during separate training exercises with Ajax vehicles in Dorset. In a written statement to Parliament, Mr Pollard stated the latest injury was a 'serious concern' and he had directed a pause on trials 'out of an abundance of caution'.
Tory Armed Forces spokesman Mark Francois summed up the dire situation: 'We clearly cannot continue like this. The imperative is for ministers to either fix Ajax or fail it.' The Ministry of Defence has declined to comment officially on the specific rubber track tests, which were confirmed by defence sources.
For the British Army and the taxpayer, the tests on the Bovington Camp training ranges represent what may be the final roll of the dice for a desperately troubled defence procurement programme.
