General Dynamics Land Systems UK has successfully completed an additional live firing test for AJAX, the British Army’s new armoured fighting vehicle, at a range in West Wales.
The testing, which took place throughout July and August, involved both the turreted AJAX variant and the ARES variant. It focused on generating specific data and evidence to support manned firing trials planned for early 2017.
The turreted AJAX firing trials were conducted by a joint General Dynamics Land Systems UK and Lockheed Martin UK team, with support from CTA International. The trials were observed by the Ministry of Defence.
The AJAX testing included the firing of the CTA International 40mm cannon, the coaxially mounted 7.62mm machine gun and smoke grenades. The ARES variant tested the firing of the Kongsberg PROTECTOR Remote Weapon System, which included the firing of the General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), Heavy Machine Gun (HMG), Grenade Machine Gun (GMG) and smoke grenades.
Throughout the firing trials, General Dynamics Land Systems UK completed a comprehensive set of more than 400 individual tests on both prototype combat vehicles.
Other trials planned for AJAX prototypes in the coming months include automotive, cold chamber, power systems and Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities.
Chief of Materiel (Land) at MOD Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), Lieutenant General Paul Jaques, attended the live firing trials. He said: “The completion of these live firing trials marks an important milestone towards fulfilment of the AJAX programme, the British Army’s largest single order for armoured vehicles for more than 30 years. This national project will equip our troops with a fleet of world-class armoured vehicles, which will form a central component of the UK’s new Strike Brigades.”
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Post written by: Julie Shennan
Features Editor of MOD DCB Magazine and MOD DSS Yearbook. Content Marketing Executive at BiP Solutions (Defence Online's sister company). Editor and founder of Artsnfaffs Online Magazine.
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