Ajax demonstrates capabilities in extreme cold weather
By Tom Dunlop - April 23, 202482
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Ajax, the British Army’s newest generation of armoured fighting vehicles, has successfully completed rigorous trials in the challenging sub-zero conditions of Sweden.
The trials, which saw temperatures plummet to as low as -36 Celsius, were conducted by the Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) Ajax delivery team in collaboration with the Household Cavalry Regiment (HCR).
This marks the first time that a Field Army crew has operated and fired the Ajax, showcasing its cutting-edge Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) technology in extreme conditions.
The vehicle was tested for its ability to manoeuvre over snow-covered terrain and execute firing on the move with remarkable accuracy.
Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2) Paul Martin, the Range Conducting Officer, oversaw the range and firing serials, mirroring his duties in the UK. Reflecting on the trials, WO2 Martin remarked in a press release, “It was great to work alongside our Army colleagues and industry who all have one common purpose and that’s the end goal of delivering this exceptional platform to the Field Army. It was an extremely challenging environment, but working as a group we were able to successfully deliver our objective of demonstrating that Ajax can travel long distances over snow-covered terrain and fire on the move with great accuracy.”
Lieutenant Colonel James Glossop, the DE&S delivery team’s Operation and Army HQ liaison, also shared his observations: “It was very impressive to see Ajax perform in Sweden. I was lucky enough to see the platforms fire during a snowstorm and use its sighting systems to identify, engage and hit targets that were simply unable to be seen by the naked eye. It was incredibly impressive and a reminder of the competitive edge this armoured vehicle will bring the British Army.”
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/ajax-de ... d-weather/