Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Ajax (ASCOD 2)
Ajax is a British tracked armoured reconnaissance vehicle, a development of the ASCOD, made by General Dynamics Land Systems UK in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. It reached Initial Operating Capability in the British Army on 17 November 2025, after years of delivery problems.
United Kingdom|General Dynamics Land Systems UKWhat Is the Ajax (ASCOD 2)? Overview, History and Development
The 2014 contract covered 589 vehicles in six variants, Ajax, Ares, Athena, Atlas, Apollo and Argus, for about 5.5 billion GBP. Armament is a 40 mm CTA cannon with telescoped ammunition and a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun. An 805 hp MTU diesel gives a speed of about 70 km/h, and weight is about 38 t. Crew is 3, plus 3 in the Ares.
Noise and vibration injuries to soldiers led to trials being stopped in 2021, and the programme was nearly cancelled before being revised and restarted, with delivery resumed from 2023 to 2025. General Dynamics announced Initial Operating Capability on 17 November 2025, with over 160 vehicles delivered by then. The unit cost is not officially published, and about 9 million GBP per vehicle is a derived estimate. Related vehicles are the Austrian Ulan and Spanish Pizarro. Rivals include the CV90 and Lynx KF41.
Ajax (ASCOD 2) Specifications: Weight, Armament, Armor and Mobility
Ajax (ASCOD 2) Variants and Versions Compared
Ajax is the main reconnaissance variant with a 40 mm CTA cannon and a crew of 3.
Ares is the armoured personnel version of the family with a crew of 3 plus 3.
Atlas is the support variant, one of the six in the family.
Which Countries Use the Ajax (ASCOD 2)? Operators and Users
United KingdomAjax (ASCOD 2) FAQ: Price, Range, Operators and Most Asked Questions
How much does the Ajax armoured vehicle cost?
The Ajax programme cost about 5.5 billion GBP for 589 vehicles, or roughly 9 million GBP per vehicle as a derived estimate. A unit cost is not officially published.
When did Ajax reach Initial Operating Capability?
General Dynamics announced on 17 November 2025 that Ajax reached Initial Operating Capability in the British Army. Over 160 vehicles had been delivered by then.
What was wrong with the Ajax?
Noise and vibration injuries to soldiers led to Ajax trials being stopped in 2021, and the programme was nearly cancelled. It was revised and restarted, with delivery resumed from 2023 to 2025.
How many Ajax vehicles are ordered?
The 2014 contract covers 589 Ajax family vehicles in six variants: Ajax, Ares, Athena, Atlas, Apollo and Argus. The contract was worth about 5.5 billion GBP.
Ajax vs CV90: which is better?
The Ajax, with a 40 mm CTA cannon and a weight of about 38 t, competes with the CV90 and Lynx KF41. It is a reconnaissance vehicle, and the CV90 is more widely exported.
Is Ajax the same as ASCOD 2?
Ajax is a British development of the Austro-Spanish ASCOD, and is sometimes called ASCOD 2. The Austrian Ulan and Spanish Pizarro use the ASCOD base.