The Public Accounts Committee said general dynamics ajax crews are being asked to operate safely while the Ministry of Defence has still not resolved the vehicle’s noise and vibration problems. In November 2025, Exercise Titan Storm was halted after 33 soldiers reported symptoms after time spent operating in Ajax vehicles.
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said the committee was “astounded” by officials’ advice that proper use of Ajax requires maintenance checks every time it is stopped. He also said, “Our thoughts are with all those soldiers who reported symptoms from noise and vibration after operating these vehicles, and we were frankly astounded to hear officials explain that proper use of Ajax requires maintenance checks every time it is stopped.”
Public Accounts Committee report
The committee said in its report on the department’s 2024-25 accounts that the ministry was “placing unrealistic expectations on how soldiers operate Ajax vehicles safely when it has still not resolved the underlying noise and vibration issues.” The report said the department had not explained clearly how the exercise had exceeded the vehicle’s design limits.
Ajax is a tracked reconnaissance vehicle, and the programme has been among the most troubled procurement programmes of recent years. The committee said earlier noise and vibration problems had already halted trials and prompted medical assessments of crews.
Exercise Titan Storm
Five soldiers were still under medical review when departmental officials gave evidence to the committee in March 2026. The committee said that maintenance checks every time a vehicle stops were unreasonable, while the department said the vehicle was safe when operated and maintained correctly within its design parameters.
Clifton-Brown said, “This is frankly an insult to intelligence, and much good may this advice do our fighting men and women if called upon to operate Ajax in combat.” The committee said the department was developing Ajax 2, a package of upgrades that includes composite rubber tracks and automatic track tensioners.
Ajax 2 upgrades
The committee said it had not been given the likely costs of the Ajax 2 upgrades. It said the department’s plans were “more in hope than in expectation.” For soldiers expected to use the fleet, the immediate issue is not a new timetable but whether the vehicle can be operated without repeating the symptoms that stopped Titan Storm.
