An anonymous British worker leaked a video showing some of the problems identified in the AJAX armored infantry fighting vehicles.
According to information from the Ukrainian portal Militarnyi, the leak was reported by British defense observer Fill Your Boots, including a report detailing the deficiencies of the AJAX.
According to the report, the vehicles’ batteries cannot sustain normal operating conditions. In addition, the auxiliary power unit is so unreliable that units have effectively prohibited its use due to frequent failures.
Another problem identified was camouflage. Since the AJAX does not have standard camouflage nets or thermal covers, units are forced to use nets from the AS90 self-propelled howitzer.
However, these nets need to be cut to fit into the storage compartment, as they are too large to meet the AJAX requirements. As a result, crews cannot effectively conceal the vehicle’s thermal signature.
Fuel tank failures were also identified. Due to these malfunctions, crews need to manually transfer fuel between vehicles using a separate fuel pump.
Another serious issue concerns documentation. The technical manual for the AJAX exceeds 20,000 pages, and mastering it fully essentially requires a dedicated training course. The situation is worsened by the quality of the instructions used during training.
Even more concerning are the delays observed in the operation of the 40 mm cannon. In the event of a malfunction, the system forces the crew to wait 30 minutes, effectively immobilizing the entire vehicle. This also disables the coaxial machine gun, as it does not have a mechanical firing mode.
The vehicle’s excessive fuel consumption—approximately 16 liters per hour—was also reported. With a 795-liter fuel tank, the vehicle can operate for only around 50 hours, which is considered insufficient for equipment designed for deep reconnaissance.
Issues with communication systems, excessive vehicle vibration while driving off-road, and failures in the standard track lubrication weapon were also reported.
General Atomics has taken some measures to correct some of the reported issues, but in November it was announced that the British Army’s use of the AJAX had been suspended and that the Secretary of Defence had been misled about the vehicle’s “safety.”
Photo: Reproduction / Militarnyi. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
