General Dynamics Land Systems UK - updates Chief of Materiel (Land)
Lt Gen Jaques toured the facility and was given an overview of General Dynamics Land Systems-UK’s plan for the Assembly, Integration and Test (AIT) of AJAX platforms. He was also given a comprehensive update on the continued progress on the AJAX programme, including an in-depth update on the prototype trials programme.
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Lt Gen Jaques took the opportunity to see first-hand AJAX prototype platform trials at a test facility in West Wales. The AJAX and ARES prototypes are currently undertaking a range of trials, such as acoustics trials, ahead of further trials planned for later this year, including a formal firing programme, automotive and Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) trials.
Speaking during his visit, Lt Gen Jaques said: “I am pleased to see first-hand today the significant, continued progress at the Merthyr Tydfil site. The AJAX programme demonstrates how the Ministry of Defence is working in partnership with industry to deliver state-of-the-art capabilities to the British Army and this facility highlights our commitment to that.”
Kevin Connell, vice president of General Dynamics Land Systems-UK, said: “We were delighted to welcome Lt Gen Jaques on his first visit to our Merthyr Tydfil facility. This facility firmly establishes Wales as the home of the UK’s Armoured Fighting Vehicle industry; and our excellent progress in capitalising the facility is mirrored by the AJAX programme trials, which continues to showcase the cutting-edge capability this platform will deliver to the British Army.”
The range of AJAX variants will allow the British Army to conduct sustained, expeditionary, full-spectrum and network-enabled operations with a reduced logistics footprint. It can operate in combined-arms and multinational situations across a wide-range of future operating environments. The first British Army squadron will be equipped by mid-2019 to allow conversion to begin with a brigade ready to deploy from the end of 2020.
