Rearmament of Britain: 50 armored vehicles released at 12 million USD each, delayed by 8 years 0 6

British military officials have announced the first delivery of Ajax armored reconnaissance vehicles, developed under a program that is eight years behind schedule.

According to The Guardian, the first 50 units, each costing nearly £10 million (over 12 million USD), are ready for use on NATO's eastern flank.

Deputy Defense Minister Luke Pollard acknowledged that the project's history has been "painful," but emphasized:

"We have learned many lessons. If it were dangerous, we would not have entrusted it to our military."

The Ajax program started back in 2010, with deliveries planned for 2017. However, due to excessive vibration and noise, which even led to hearing problems for soldiers, testing was halted several times.

Despite improvements, Ajax remains noisy, the British Army admits. Crews now use double-layer protection, earplugs, and special pads.

The primary purpose of the armored vehicle is reconnaissance in the "grey zone" or behind the front line, with the capability of observing from a distance of up to 8 km. Thanks to a system of cameras and sensors, a crew of three can operate inside for a week without going outside.

Critics point out that Ajax has arrived too late, as modern wars, particularly in Ukraine, demonstrate the dominance of cheap FPV drones over armored vehicles. However, British military officials insist that the criticism is excessive.

"We will not fight like the Ukrainians," said Ajax commander Lieutenant Commander Andrew Rowlinson, adding that the vehicle is needed for complex NATO operations.

While some acknowledged that the reconnaissance functions of Ajax could be replaced by drones, Rowlinson also noted that cheaper technology has its limitations. "We don't need to think about how windy it is; we can't launch our drones," he said, emphasizing that the operational time of many cheap drones "is about 30 minutes to an hour."

The British Army plans to acquire 589 Ajax vehicles of various modifications by the end of the decade. The program, besides its strategic significance, provides over 4,000 jobs in the UK.