British Army pulls entire fleet of fighting vehicles after 31 soldiers fall ill | UK | News
The British Army has halted the use of its Ajax fleet after dozens of soldiers fell ill due to noise and vibration problems. The embarrassing revelation is the latest controversy in the troubled £6.3bn Ajax program and comes just weeks after the program was declared safe and ready to fight.
It was reported that some soldiers participating in the exercises inside the armored fighting vehicle started vomiting. 31 soldiers from two regiments – the Household Hussars and the Royal Lancers – are said to be feeling unwell after spending 10 to 15 hours in Ajax. The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said there was a two-week suspension of use of the vehicles while an investigation was carried out.
The fallen troops were taking part in an exercise on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire at the weekend.
Sources told Times He said that in addition to the vomiting soldiers, others were also shaking so much that they could not control their bodies.
It was claimed that some of them also experienced weakness in their legs.
A Ministry of Defense spokesman said some soldiers were still receiving medical care.
The news raises serious doubts about the program, which was recently approved for commissioning in operations while remaining eight years behind schedule. In early November, Defense Procurement Minister Luke Pollard insisted Ajax were safe and had “overcome” the difficulties.
“We wouldn’t put it into the hands of our armed forces if it wasn’t safe,” he told reporters during a visit to the General Dynamics facility in Wales where the vehicles are assembled.
Ajax was affected by problems, primarily noise and vibration issues that caused soldiers to be injured during testing. Some were discharged with medical treatment, while others received treatment for hearing loss.
The Ajax is the first new armored fighting vehicle to enter the Army’s service in nearly 30 years. Approximately 170 of the vehicles have been delivered and the fleet is planned to increase to 589 by 2030.
A Ministry of Defense spokesman said: “The safety of our personnel is our top priority. This weekend, a small number of soldiers participating in an exercise involving the Ajax armored fighting vehicle reported signs of noise and vibration.
“The Army immediately halted the exercise and proactively tested all personnel involved for symptoms. Following testing, approximately 30 personnel experienced noise and vibration symptoms. The majority of them have been medically cleared and remain on duty. A small number of personnel continue to receive specialist medical care.”
“Out of an abundance of caution, the Secretary of Defense Readiness and Industry has asked the Army to halt all use of Ajax for training and exercise for two weeks, while a safety investigation into the events this weekend is ongoing. A small portion of the vehicle will continue to be tested to ensure any problems can be identified and resolved.”
“This pause underscores our absolute commitment to the safety of our personnel. As with all major equipment programs, we continue to test and improve the vehicle to ensure safety and performance.”
