British Army suspends use of Ajax fighting vehicles

The UK Ministry of Defence has reported that "around 30 members" of the armed forces heard a noise and felt a vibration after being in an Ajax armoured fighting vehicle, Sky News points out.

The difficulties were reported during a weekend military exercise that took place on 22 and 23 November. The exercise was immediately halted.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence clarified that the vast majority of soldiers have been treated and are continuing to serve, while a smaller number "continue to receive specialist medical care".

"Due to an abundance of caution, the Secretary of State for Defence and Industry [Luke Pollard] has asked the Army to suspend all use of Ajax for training and exercises for two weeks," the spokesman said, adding that a walkabout and investigation would follow.

The Ajax is a new-generation tracked combat vehicle with a weight equivalent to that of a Russian tank: it is equipped with a 40 millimetre calibre cannon.

(sky news, hal)