Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/ ... rn-defenceToday I can announce we will be spending almost £4million with Thales and General Dynamics Land Systems-UK to deliver the Ajax Shot Detection System which can sense enemy gunfire and protect troops using our next generation armoured vehicles.
Ajax Armoured Vehicles (British Army)
- The Armchair Soldier
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Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)
An announcement on AJAX in a recent speech by the Defence Secretary:
Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)
Does gunfire here include a 125mm APFSDS round fired by a T-90?
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Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)
I am curious, is this similar to the role that the BA wants Ajax to perform?
https://breakingdefense.com/2018/05/mar ... fcs-redux/
https://breakingdefense.com/2018/05/mar ... fcs-redux/
Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)
I think you are on the right track, but it is more to what the British Army had on its wish list of FRES SV/Ajax before they had to cut capabilities from the family. Saying that what the USMC seem to be working towards could be seen as the next generation Stryker family, which is something the AS Army could be interested in, especially the new capabilities they aim to introduce. It is also something the British Army should keep an eye on for possible future procurement in order to enhance the "Strike" brigades.
Forming fully capable Recce regiments using the Ajax should have been a no brainer for the Army, the cost of the additional variants could have been found if they had been willing to fight for it. It is the same argument I have put else where of new guns with no bullets as someone once said (or at least something like that).
Forming fully capable Recce regiments using the Ajax should have been a no brainer for the Army, the cost of the additional variants could have been found if they had been willing to fight for it. It is the same argument I have put else where of new guns with no bullets as someone once said (or at least something like that).
Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)
https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/land ... rations-a/
120mm on an Ascod chassis. Something we should be looking at as an Ajax variant?
120mm on an Ascod chassis. Something we should be looking at as an Ajax variant?
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Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)
Was originally the plan.
But as ever, delays, uncertainty, nerves about ordering and good old fashioned dithering pushed it out of the budget.
But as ever, delays, uncertainty, nerves about ordering and good old fashioned dithering pushed it out of the budget.
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Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)
It actually looks like a 120mm gun on a Scout/Ajax chassis, to be more precise?Dahedd wrote:https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/land ... rations-a/
120mm on an Ascod chassis. Something we should be looking at as an Ajax variant?
Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)
If the MoD actually got its act together the "Lost" variants could still emerge funding permitting.
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Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)
On a note, the French are increasing the numbers of Jaguars they're getting by 48, to a total of 300. All fully armed with CT40 and ATGMs.
The Ajax isn't as comparable to it as people often say but it's remarkable how many problems would be solved with just a little investment in this thing. A few extra turreted ones and ATGMs on them and Warriors would quantum leap their capability without needing a whole separate direct fire variant.
The Ajax isn't as comparable to it as people often say but it's remarkable how many problems would be solved with just a little investment in this thing. A few extra turreted ones and ATGMs on them and Warriors would quantum leap their capability without needing a whole separate direct fire variant.
Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)
If the Ajax with a 120mm cannon now exists & if the Challengers are as obsolete as claimed, is there now not a strong argument to buy this version & ditch the Challenger altogether?
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Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)
It doesn't, they're not and no.Dahedd wrote:If the Ajax with a 120mm cannon now exists & if the Challengers are as obsolete as claimed, is there now not a strong argument to buy this version & ditch the Challenger altogether?
Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)
Pretty sure that Dahedd is Hammond's burner account.
Just kidding
Just kidding
Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)
Lol. God no.
I'd rather see a Challenger upgrade, New turret etc. Just getting money out of any politician is like blood from a stone.
I'd rather see a Challenger upgrade, New turret etc. Just getting money out of any politician is like blood from a stone.
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Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)
Like the Leopard that was just unveiled with a LeClerq turret on it? Fitting a new gun into the old turret did not go far...Dahedd wrote: a Challenger upgrade, New turret etc
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)
Agreed. It needs to be more than that but realistically I can't see a new British heavy weight tank coming any time soon
Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)
In the grand scheme of things enough M1s or Leo2s to equip 2 Regiments plus a number for training would not break the bank compared to what is being spent on the Navy and Air Force. Until the attitude changes, except for Sf we should get out of the ground combat game, send troops into harms way without the best equipment available is just not acceptable.
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Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)
Hang on, Army is reportedly getting...Lord Jim wrote:In the grand scheme of things enough M1s or Leo2s to equip 2 Regiments plus a number for training would not break the bank compared to what is being spent on the Navy and Air Force. Until the attitude changes, except for Sf we should get out of the ground combat game, send troops into harms way without the best equipment available is just not acceptable.
AJAX, CR2 LEP, WCSP, MIV, MRV-P (1 and 2), Sky Sabre, SA80A3, Apache E...
If, big if, that all happens then the core will be pretty good.
Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)
If the Army gets what is in the equipment plan, they are going to be very well equipped.Lord Jim wrote:send troops into harms way without the best equipment available is just not acceptable.
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Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)
Other than the SA80 upgrade to A3 (and earmarking part of the Apache force for support of the RM) all of those listed by RunningStrong are - for a good number of years to come - for bringing the 3rd Division up to scratch... I guess that's what the reference to "the core" was there for?
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
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Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)
They really aren't. The equipment plan is woefully unambitious. From an equipment standpoint, even if everything planned right now goes ahead, they are still not getting several things to match peer formations.benny14 wrote:If the Army gets what is in the equipment plan, they are going to be very well equipped.
But to go into the full explanation why would go beyond the scope of this thread, as such for Ajax specifically, while everyone else in the world is throwing Cannon+ATGMs on their vehicles, Ajax remains only a gun vehicle, for example. And having lost the direct fire and overwatch variants, Ajax routes absolutely require external support to handle encounters that other nations would simply deal with and move on, saving the CAS/Artillery for things that truly need it.
What the British Army has is excellent platforms. They have the potential to be the best in the world. They have the space, the means, the options and the fitting allowance. You could do so much with Ajax. But they're only doing the bare minimum, and that's what worries me.
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Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)
All True.RetroSicotte wrote:means, the options and the fitting allowance. You could do so much with Ajax. But they're only doing the bare minimum, and that's what worries me.
The one thing really missing on everyone's equipment list though. And its the glaring unforgivable omission. Artillery. The single thing that has been the difference between winning and losing battles for centuries and we're allowing it to atrophy. All of those other programmes don't matter one bit if we don't have decent artillery (and in sufficient numbers).
Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)
Don’t forget training, spares, and logistics support.Lord Jim wrote:In the grand scheme of things enough M1s or Leo2s to equip 2 Regiments plus a number for training would not break the bank compared to what is being spent on the Navy and Air Force.