Ajax, the British Army’s new generation of armoured fighting vehicles has been put through its paces during cold weather trials in Sweden.
Service personnel from the Household Cavalry Regiment (HCR) based in Bulford, Wiltshire have successfully demonstrated the Ajax platform’s capability to operate in extreme cold weather, and fire on the move with accuracy.
Ajax is a complete and utter step change, compared to a Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) (CVR T) both mobility, lethality and also its ISTAR capabilities are far beyond what we have had previously.” Major Robert Gardner,
Ajax Trials and Capability Development
Tests were carried out in the punishing, wintry conditions of frozen Lapland where temperatures regularly dropped to minus 30 Celsius.
Major Robert Gardner, Ajax Trials and Capability Development, said: “We were aiming to prove that Ajax works as effectively in these conditions as it does in a temperate climate, therefore allowing it to be deployable all over the world.
“The live crew clearance showed that the turret is safe to use, and also demonstrated we lost no lethality or effectiveness whilst operating at extremely low temperatures.”
The HCR soldiers from the Regiment’s armoured reconnaissance unit marked a significant milestone during the overseas tests, becoming the first Field Army crew to fire the Ajax at home or abroad.
“These trials are a continuation from those that took place recently in the UK”, said Major Gardner “The tests have advanced from crews that have not fired the vehicle, to ‘static versus static’, firing approximately 120 rounds, moving on to ‘static versus moving’ and then finally proving ‘moving versus static’ whilst out here on the range in Tåme.”
The live crew clearance showed that the turret is safe to use, and also demonstrated we lost no lethality or effectiveness whilst operating at extremely low temperatures.” MAJOR ROBERT GARDNER,
AJAX TRIALS AND CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT
“Firing on the move has been really successful. It has also proven the progression from doing absolutely no firing to building up that crew confidence and getting to a point where they can achieve those activities.”
For Lance Corporal Alex, Macdonald, an Ajax gunner, this has been the first opportunity ‘to get hands on experience,’ prior to Sweden his training was mainly on simulators.
He said: “Being one of a handful of people to fire this in the Army is pretty good. It has been great, one of the best things I’ve done in my career, and my training paid off and gave me confidence in the turret.
“Arriving in Swedish Lapland to temperatures of minus 38C, was a bit of a shock but the heating inside these vehicles managed to keep us warm once we got to work.
“This climate obviously comes with its own problems”, he added “but the weapon systems have performed better than we thought they would. There were a few teething issues, which we were expecting with it being a new vehicle but overall, it has been positive, with some really valuable feedback.
“The next challenge is to learn to use the vehicle more, it will only improve as we improve.”
Working in the sub arctic was demanding for man and machine, as driver, Trooper Reuben Burt, who has worked on the vehicle for five months, explained: “Doing a maintenance job, especially getting under them, and laying in the snow was pretty rough.
The next challenge is to learn to use the vehicle more, it will only improve as we improve.” Lance Corporal Alex Macdonald, Household Cavalry Regiment
“We’ve learnt that the rubber track pads are not good on snow, as they caused sliding and drifting, but it’s about pushing the vehicles to see how they cope, testing the vehicle to its limit.
“Compared to the Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle, it feels more modern. My Troop Leader described it ‘like going from analogue to digital or driving a sports car with a manual gear box, to driving a new Ferrari racing car.’
“The engine just feels better underneath you, the steering handles better, it’s a bit bigger, but, it’s been a pretty capable vehicle.”
This cold weather trial has been an excellent opportunity for the Army to really get to grips with Ajax and test and understand its capability.
The combat vehicle’s mobility over difficult terrain and its high standard of protection, Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) will provide a world leading competitive advantage.
Major Robert Gardner concluded that ‘over the trial Ajax demonstrated itself to be very effective in this environment’, he said: “We’ve seen no drop in its effectiveness compared to those in the UK, which is really positive. And now we’ve proved the cold climate, the next step is to prove it in the hot weather this summer, and at that point it is essentially proven and deployable in all situations.”
“Ajax is a complete and utter step change, compared to a Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) (CVR T) both mobility, lethality and also its ISTAR capabilities are far beyond what we have had previously.”
