Labour just made a dreadful, expensive decision on its creaking military gear
The UK government has decided to continue commissioning the Ajax armoured vehicle despite it being outdated, over budget, and causing health issues for soldiers. This decision comes amid criticism that political considerations are outweighing military effectiveness and common sense. The vehicle, originally meant to modernize the army, is now seen as obsolete in the context of modern drone warfare.
- ▪The Ajax armoured vehicle is nearly a decade late and significantly over budget, with no clear military utility in modern warfare.
- ▪Recent trials caused injuries to 35 soldiers across 23 vehicles, leaving crews incoherent, deaf, and suffering from headaches.
- ▪Armed forces minister Luke Pollard learned officials had concealed the Ajax's harmful effects on soldiers' health.
- ▪The British Army paused Ajax use after soldiers reported feeling unwell during exercises.
- ▪The government's decision to continue the program has been criticized as reinforcing failure rather than addressing it.
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NewsUKUK Politics CommentLabour just made a dreadful, expensive decision on its creaking military gearBurying the bad news of a non-decision over a useless but expensive defence disaster on a day when all eyes were on the PM shows the government putting politics above good sense, writes world affairs editor Sam KileyWednesday 29 April 2026 15:13 BSTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":true,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"b2966460","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ajax-defence-uk-military-ukraine-weapons-b2966460.html","title":"Labour just made a dreadful,…
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