The long-suffering British Ajax infantry fighting vehicle still must achieve full operational readiness by the end of 2029. In other words, the old deadline remains despite numerous problems and cancellation threats.
This became known from the UK Ministry of Defence response to a parliamentary inquiry. It also notes that investigation regarding the program is still being conducted with all possible consequences.
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In other words, the survival of the Ajax IFV together with all accompanying vehicles is not guaranteed and depends on ministry decision. The ministry previously did not rule out readiness to cancel the project if necessary.
Overall, by the end of 2029, it will be almost 20 years since the start of the Ajax procurement program. In other words, practically two decades will have gone into ordering and delivering tracked armored vehicles and this is if everything proceeds according to plan rather than receiving further delays.
Full operational capability of military equipment means completion of its delivery to all designated units, personnel completing all training stages and mastery. This effectively means having the capability to perform all required combat tasks.
Recall that the Ajax armored vehicle family was declared to have achieved Initial Operating Capability (IOC) in November 2025. However, that same month they were banned from use due to personnel injuries.
In subsequent weeks, additional program problems emerged, including horrific technical condition straight from the factory. Though the storm around it subsided somewhat over time, the first culprit for the failure has been identified.
Britain is currently attempting rearmament in other directions as well, including RCH 155 self-propelled howitzer procurement. There are even thoughts about exporting their own Challenger 3 tanks, which is actually not as impossible as it seems.
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