The Ministry of Defence has confirmed it has received the final Army safety investigation report into the Ajax armoured vehicle programme, with ministers set to update Parliament on next steps after the Easter recess.
In response to written questions, Defence Minister Luke Pollard said “we have received the final Army safety investigation report, and work is ongoing to agree next steps,” adding that the department continues to engage with manufacturer General Dynamics.
Pollard said engagement with the company has been ongoing since Exercise TITAN STORM, with discussions now focused on determining the programme’s next phase. “The department continues to engage with General Dynamics on the report and next steps,” he said. No timeline has been provided for when remaining work will conclude, and ministers have not yet set out what decisions may follow from the report.
Pollard said he would “update the House after Easter recess to outline next steps,” indicating that further clarity on the future of Ajax is expected in the coming weeks.
The programme has faced a series of safety-related setbacks. In late 2025, training activity was halted after reports of soldiers experiencing illness linked to noise and vibration during exercises, prompting a temporary pause in use while investigations were carried out. Subsequent incidents, including a further case during ongoing trials in December, led to additional scrutiny, with multiple vehicles withdrawn from activity and subjected to detailed inspections and assessment.
These issues formed part of wider investigations involving both Army-led inquiries and an independent review, with testing activity curtailed while data was gathered. The programme’s Initial Operating Capability status was later withdrawn in early 2026, reflecting the continued uncertainty surrounding the platform’s safety and readiness.