The latest version of the Ajax tracked infantry fighting vehicle, which combines the General Dynamics Land Systems chassis with a Lockheed Martin turret, was presented at DSEI 2025. The new version has been proposed to the British Army as a potential successor to the outdated Warrior infantry fighting vehicle, which has been in service since September 1984.
As reported, the chassis of the new version of the Ajax infantry fighting vehicle is evaluation. It retained most of the subsystems used in vehicles that had already entered service with the British Army. To date, the army has received 147 vehicles. The unchanged elements include the entire power plant, as well as many other basic elements that will simplify logistics, training and support. Potentially, a crew operating on modern Ajax will be able to operate the new infantry fighting vehicle with virtually no additional training. Another key element, the electronic architecture, is also largely based on the Ajax architecture, but with some improvements.
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| Ajax infantry fighting vehicle at DSEI 2025. |
| Source: invoen.ru |
Among the new features are rubber tracks from the Canadian company Soucy, which are also installed on the Blackjax. The Ajax infantry fighting vehicle is also equipped with a self-regulating track tension system, which was shown in the demo, but is not installed on the basic Ajax model.
The new infantry fighting vehicle accommodates a crew of three, all of them in the hull, plus eight paratroopers. The car is equipped with the same three sets of armor as the current Ajax, although modularity will allow for further changes.
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| The uninhabited Ajax infantry fighting vehicle tower. |
| Source: invoen.ru |
As for the uninhabited turret, it is heavily dependent on investment. The first obvious factor is the choice of weapon, which is CT40 from CTAI. The British Ministry of Defense has purchased a large number of such guns, a significant number of which remain in military warehouses.
The gun is equipped with a new heat shield, which, according to Lockheed Martin experts, not only reduces thermal visibility, but also increases the life of the barrel. The Ajax BMP tower is largely based on the base model tower, but has been redesigned with modularity in mind. This will make it easy to adapt it to customer requirements: the turret can accommodate 25-mm, 30-mm and 40-mm guns.
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| The Javelin ATGM launcher on the Ajax BMP turret. |
| Source: invoen.ru |
As it became known, the experimental combat vehicle, which is still being worked on and some elements of which have not yet been determined, is equipped with one Javelin ATGM, the launcher of which is located on the right. It can be replaced with a different type of ATGM or a similar-sized barrage ammunition. Although it is primarily an unmanned tower, Lockheed Martin calls it "optionally manned," as it is considering the possibility of creating a manned version with a basket and crew seats. New capabilities are being considered, such as short-range air defense, as well as reducing the load on armor.
A gunner's sight and a panoramic commander's periscope manufactured by Thales are installed on the tower under development, which allow using the hunter-shooter mode. Lockheed Martin is considering installing other systems, such as the SkyKeeper BMC4I. The tower is equipped with the Elbit Systems Iron Fist active protection system, which provides 360° protection of the machine from most external threats.
As for passive armor, the protection level of an uninhabited tower may be lower than that of manned towers. The armor set has not yet been fully determined, as the tower is still at the design stage. Nevertheless, it is considered high-tech. Lockheed Martin calls it "firing". Emphasizing the importance of fruitful cooperation with General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin considers the tower, which is fully manufactured in Amp Hill, Bedfordshire, as an independent product and is ready to discuss its integration into other platforms, as it is completely platform-independent.
Information about the mass of neither the tower nor the entire system was provided, as the machine was still under development.
Source: edrmagazine.eu
