Ares Armoured Vehicles Delivered to British Army

The first pre-production prototype of the Scout Specialist Vehicle (SV) at the UK’s biggest military vehicle demonstration, Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD). The vehicle is part of the Future Rap[id Effect System (FRES). www.defenceimagery.mod.uk

Ares, and the other variants in the Ajax family of armored vehicles, will replace the Army’s Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) (CVR(T)) vehicles which have been the mainstay of armored reconnaissance for almost fifty years.

CVR(T) has proved itself on the battlefield in the Falklands and the in the deserts of the Middle East, but now requires a replacement to maintain the Army’s position as a top tier performer and to match the needs of the twenty-first century.

Capabilities of AJAX Georgina Coupe, BFBS

The Ajax family consists of Ares a troop-carrying reconnaissance vehicle, Ajax armed with a formidable 40mm cannon, support variants Apollo and Atlas, a command and control variant Athena, and an engineer variant – Argus.

Ares, part of the Ajax family of armored vehicles, is being built by General Dynamics in Merthyr Tydfil, bringing hundreds of jobs and wider opportunities to Wales. The vehicles will give the British Army’s Armoured Infantry and Strike Brigades a critical advantage over any likely opponent, through a combination of the latest technology, exemplary levels of crew protection, and, of course, our world-class professional soldiers.

Colonel Justin Kingsford, the Ajax Programme Director said: ‘This is an exciting moment for the Army. The delivery of ARES this week is an important step on our journey to give the Army an amazing state of the art, world beating Armoured Fighting Vehicle’

General Dynamics Land Systems–UK is delivering 589 AJAX vehicles across six variants – Ajax (turreted variant), Ares (reconnaissance support), Apollo (equipment repair), Atlas (equipment recovery) and Argus (engineering reconnaissance) – to the British Army. The name Ajax is also applied to the family as a whole. General Dynamics Land Systems-UK

Describing the vehicle in greater depth, he went on to say:

‘Ajax will allow us to manage battle space information faster from a modern digitized platform, with increased lethality through the new 40mm cannon. Better mobility, alongside enhanced protection levels and increased reliability underline the transformational nature of the capability. A comprehensive simulated training suite supports this fleet and ensures we invest fully in our crews to get the very best of this capability.’ — https://www.army.mod.uk/

The Ajax ARES new tracked armored reconnaissance vehicle (in the center) will replace the old CVRT Scimitar light reconnaissance armored vehicle in service with the British army. (Picture source Twitter account Household Cavalry) Twitter account Household Cavalry