General Dynamics Land Systems UK has completed initial air portability trials for the AJAX family of vehicles at the Joint Air Delivery Test and Evaluation Unit (JADTEU) at RAF Brize Norton.
The trials, which took place at the end of May, assessed the loading of the ARES prototype platform, which will be used to deliver and support specialist troops across the battlefield, into the cargo hold of an RAF C-17A Globemaster III and A400M Atlas aircraft. These aircraft provide the RAF with a long range, strategic, heavy-lift capability, enabling it to project and sustain an effective force close to a potential area of operations for combat, peacekeeping or humanitarian missions worldwide.
The ARES prototype platform was driven onto real-size mock-ups of each aircraft in order for JADTEU to develop a tie-down scheme. These trials form part of the process, which, combined with additional trials, will ensure that the AJAX family of vehicles, when in-service, can be transported anywhere in the world in rapid time to support the British Army.
Chief of Materiel (Land) for MOD Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), Lieutenant General Paul Jaques, said: “AJAX is the biggest armoured vehicle programme for a generation for the British Army. These trials mark significant progress in the programme; it is essential that these fully digitised fighting vehicles, which will sit at the heart of the UK’s agile Strike Brigades, can be deployed at short notice worldwide to protect the UK and our interests.”
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AJAX ARES British Army Defence Equipment General Dynamics Land Systems UK Lieutenant General Paul Jaques MOD vehicles
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