The roll-out of the hi-tech vehicles was halted after 31 troops got ‘tank-sick’ during Salisbury Plain war games with some throwing up and being unable to stand
The Army’s chunder-full new Ajax tanks are to resume trials – despite making dozens of soldiers sick. The £6.3bn roll-out has been in limbo since a disastrous war game on Salisbury Plain five months ago led to the suspension of all the 42-ton reconnaissance transporters.
A total of 31 soldiers got ‘tank-sick’ having ridden in 23 Ajax vehicles on the Iron Storm drill.
Some reportedly stumbled out of the armoured vehicles vomiting and unable to stand.
The setback came weeks after defence minister Luke Pollard had declared the Ajax fleet ‘safe’.
He was forced to pull the plug on the programme and later said he was ‘disgusted’ to hear about the debacle.
Three separate safety investigations were launched to find out what caused the problems.
At the time it was suspected the noise and the amount the vehicles vibrated were behind the woes.
But in a written statement Mr Pollard said the programme would be ‘proceeding cautiously’.
The minister said an investigation found ‘a combination of factors’ was likely to have caused the symptoms reported by soldiers.
They included technical issues, variability in training and experience, exposure to the cold and air quality in the Ajax.
He said that all Army personnel who reported issues had returned to normal duties and the majority had suffered from ‘temporary symptoms’.
But some troops were out of action for months.
Mr Pollard said he had ‘agreed to restart the acceptance of vehicles’ from manufacturer General Dynamics.
He went on: “However I accept that the experience for our soldiers using Ajax has not been good enough and that is not acceptable.
“I have implemented strict new controls on the reintroduction of the Ajax vehicles that is focused on providing a significantly improved user experience.
“We have been engaging extensively and directly with our soldiers throughout this process – their experiences matter and they are shaping much of what we do next.
“As a result we are considering a phased approach to restarting the Ajax programme.”
The first phase of its reintroduction will include the restarting of trials with a limited number of vehicles and under ‘very controlled circumstances’, Mr Pollard said.
The Ajax programme has been plagued by problems including vehicles being so loud they caused hearing damage to soldiers testing them.
An official report earlier this month warned soldiers were potentially being ‘poisoned’ by carbon monoxide fumes leaking into the vehicle cabs.
The report concluded no single cause led to last year’s problems, blaming a ‘multi-factor combination’ of issues, including mechanical defects and ‘faulty headsets’.
It also revealed problems with the vehicle’s track, loose or missing ‘engine deck bolts’ and unreliable power units.
A spokesman for General Dynamics said: “GD UK welcomes the conclusions of the Army Safety Investigation Team and the decision by the Ministry of Defence to resume acceptance and operation of Ajax vehicles under a phased and carefully controlled approach.
“The safety of soldiers is, and has always been, our highest priority.
“GD UK has confidence in the performance and protection Ajax is designed to provide.
“It is the world’s most advanced, fully digitised, armoured fighting vehicle and ensures soldiers see and understand the battlefield faster than any adversary.”