Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • General Dynamics and British Army conduct AJAX trials at MoD Pendine

Defence

General Dynamics and British Army conduct AJAX trials at MoD Pendine

General Dynamics Land Systems UK recently conducted live crew clearance trials at MoD Pendine in South Wales - involving a British Army crew operating a CT40mm cannon and 7.62mm chain gun aboard their AJAX Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) for the first time.

Image courtesy General Dynamics

MoD Pendine is one of 16 sites owned by the MoD and operated by QinetiQ under the Long Term Partnering Agreement.

The AJAX AFV is a fully-digital, fully-integrated reconnaissance vehicle with the latest 40mm cannon technology firing capabilities, due to equip the British Army’s Armoured Cavalry Regiments.

Advertisement
PTC rectangle

Up to 28 serials were conducted over 500 and 800 metre distances, and the QinetiQ Pendine team provided targets, high-speed and normal video, as well as a Muzzle Velocity Radar and Meteorological data on a safe, secure and clear range. The GD trial team used an Unmanned Air System (UAS) to capture footage of firing serials.

The GD trials team worked with QinetiQ, Lockheed Martin UK, British Army military vehicle and vehicle weapon operators and a number of MoD and DE&S project team members.

Support was provided to GD by the Pendine Armoury team, firstly for inspection of the chain gun before it was issued to GD for vehicle fitting – as well as cleaning during the trial period. The wider MoD Pendine team worked daily with GD visitors, keeping trials running to plan.

Advertisement
ODU RT

The set-up on the Ranges positively assisted GD and the MoD to meet their requirements and complete tests effectively and efficiently.
 

 

Advertisement
Gulfstream banner
HMS Active completes float off feat

Defence Events

HMS Active completes float off feat

30 March 2026

Building on the momentum of February's dual milestone event at Babcock’s Rosyth site, the Type 31 frigate programme has reached another significant stage, with HMS Active completing the float-off process.

Lockheed Martin joins MTC as Tier 1 member

Defence

Lockheed Martin joins MTC as Tier 1 member

30 March 2026

Lockheed Martin has joined the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) as a Tier 1 member which will see it collaborate on core research, capabilities and investments and play a key role in managing projects that address some of the pressing challenges being faced by defence industry supply chains.

RFA Lyme Bay gets mine hunting tech upgrade

Defence

RFA Lyme Bay gets mine hunting tech upgrade

30 March 2026

The Royal Navy is stepping up its mine hunting capabilities with new cutting-edge uncrewed equipment being added to RFA Lyme Bay in the coming days.

British Army retire Land Rover fleet

Defence

British Army retire Land Rover fleet

30 March 2026

British soldiers will use a new fleet of thousands of modern vehicles, following the start of the retirement of the iconic Land Rover fleet earlier this month, after 70 years of service.

Advertisement
PTC rectangle
James Heappey joins NAD Board

Defence

James Heappey joins NAD Board

30 March 2026

Former British Minister of State for the Armed Forces from 2020 to 2024 The Rt Hon Major James Heappey has joined the board of Swedish defence tech startup Nordic Air Defence (NAD), developers of the K100XR drone interceptor for civilian and military use.

BAE Systems partners with Scale AI on agentic AI for defence

Defence

BAE Systems partners with Scale AI on agentic AI for defence

27 March 2026

BAE Systems and Scale AI have announced a strategic relationship agreement to accelerate the development and fielding of advanced artificial intelligence capabilities in support of the US Department of War’s (DoW) high-stakes mission environments and operational platforms.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
Gulfstream banner