MoD Greenlights £480m Ajax Armoured Vehicle Pay-Out
The Ministry of Defence has given the go-ahead to resume payments to General Dynamics, unlocking a hefty £480 million withheld since 2020. This fresh cash injection pushes the Ajax armoured vehicle programme closer to delivering the next-gen fighting machines to the British Army.
Ajax Vehicles Set to Roll Out by Late 2025
More than 589 Ajax vehicles, mostly assembled at General Dynamics’ Merthyr Tydfil factory, are poised to hit the front lines between July and December 2025. This marks a significant boost to the Army’s land-based reconnaissance capabilities, with the vehicles boasting state-of-the-art sensors, a powerful 40mm cannon, modular armour, and upgraded all-terrain mobility.
Reliability Growth Trials have logged over 2,260 kilometres across tough terrain, putting the Ajax, Apollo, Atlas, and Ares variants through paces like firing weapons, vehicle recovery, and battlefield communications.
Jobs Boom Across UK Supply Chain
Aside from military muscle, the contract will fuel economic growth, supporting over 4,000 jobs across the UK—including hundreds in South Wales—and involving a supply chain of more than 230 companies nationwide. The deal ties neatly into the Prime Minister’s priority of creating better-paid jobs and opportunities across the country.
Senior Military Praise for Ajax Progress
“Having worked closely with General Dynamics to address the issues, I am pleased to say we are making progress and are now on course to see the delivery of a suite of hundreds of battle-ready vehicles for the British Army,” said Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.
Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Sharon Nesmith, added: “Ajax is the heart of the Army’s modernisation programme, significantly enhancing our surveillance and strike capability.”
The programme remains firmly within budget under a robust fixed-price contract, with future payments linked to delivery milestones and successful trials. Full Operational Capability is expected between October 2028 and September 2029, equipping the Army’s Deep Reconnaissance Strike Brigade and Armoured Brigade Combat Teams with cutting-edge armoured cavalry.
