techtronicz

Speaking in the Commons, a defence minister has prompted concern about the £5.5bn Ajax light tank project, which has been troubled by personnel injuries sustained in use, caused by excessive noise and vibration problems.

The minister for defence procurement, Jeremy Quin, told MPs that he hopes to find a long-term solution for the Ajax light tank programme. The initiative is “very vital” for the British Army and thousands of workers, he said. The project is expected to employ 4,100 people across 230 organisations, including General Dynamics as a contractor.

Despite its desire to make the light armoured vehicle project a success, the government stated last month that it is “troubled” and may have to be abandoned. Quin told the Defence Select Committee that the military is developing contingency plans in the event that the tank cannot be employed.

The trials were halted after several staff reported vibration injuries and hearing loss, which were treated with steroid injections in an attempt to reverse the damage. There were 310 people who needed to have their hearing tested right away.

Quin said he “cannot 100% promise” a fix will be found in response to queries this week, and emphasised that the government will not accept a car that fails to meet testing requirements. He admitted that he had portrayed the show as troublesome, but insisted that this did not mean the issues were unsolvable.

Vehicle trials have resumed, according to the statement. Engineers will try to figure out what’s causing the jarring vibrations and see if the vehicle can be rescued with some design changes. He did not provide a timeline for reaching full operational capacity, stating that they cannot accept initial operational capabilities until the noise and vibration issues are resolved.