The British Army’s Ajax AFV has attained Initial Operational Capability (IOC) with the Household Cavalry Regiment. (UK MoD/Jack Eckersley)
Initial Operational Capability Achieved
The British Army’s Ajax armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) has achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC), as announced by the UK Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) organization on 6 November. The IOC milestone was established in September with the Household Cavalry Regiment, stationed in Bulford, Wiltshire.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) defines IOC as the ability to deploy Ajax as part of a combined arms squadron—trained, sustainable, and prepared for operational tasks. The composition of vehicles at IOC includes:
- 20 Ajax variants
- 16 Ares reconnaissance support variants
- 4 Athena command-and-control units
- 4 Apollo equipment repair vehicles
- 4 Atlas equipment recovery units
- 2 Argus engineering reconnaissance variants
Current Delivery Status
The Queen’s Royal Hussars along with the Household Cavalry Regiment are the initial units to receive Ajax vehicles. Meanwhile, the Royal Dragoon Guards and the Royal Lancers are currently undergoing training in preparation for their future deliveries. As of 31 October, a total of 156 vehicles have been successfully delivered to the field army, which includes:
- 81 Ajax units
- 29 Ares models
- 21 Athena variants
- 3 Argus units
- 13 Apollo vehicles
- 9 Atlas models
The full operational capability (FOC) for Ajax is anticipated by the end of the decade, setting the stage for enhanced operational readiness.
Contract and Procurement Overview
General Dynamics Land Systems-UK (GDLS-UK) is under a £5.5 billion (USD $7.2 billion) agreement to develop, produce, and maintain a total of 589 Ajax vehicles for the British Army. This encompasses:
- 245 Ajax variants divided into:
- 198 reconnaissance and strike subvariants for armoured cavalry roles
- 23 joint fire-control subvariants designated for artillery forward observers
- 24 ground-based surveillance subvariants
- 93 Ares variants
- 112 Athena units
- 50 Apollo vehicles
- 38 Atlas recovery units
- 51 Argus reconnaissance variants
Deepen Your Insights into Defence Capabilities
Access comprehensive information on validated military equipment, operational capabilities, and market trends.
