AJAX enters M113-replacement race

General Dynamics Land Systems–Australia (GDLS-A) unveiled its entry in the LAND 400 Phase 3 (M113 replacement) program – the AJAX armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) – on the first day of Land Forces 2018 in Adelaide, this week.

CAPTION: An AJAX Repair (or ‘fitters’ variant, known as APOLLO in the UK) was on display at the Adelaide Convention Centre. Photo by Brian Hartigan.

Kevin Connell, the recently-appointed vice president of General Dynamics Land Systems–Australia, said AJAX was the latest generation family of AFV, developed, extensively tested and currently produced in the UK and could be readily adapted to meet the LAND 400 Phase 3 Mounted Close Combat Capability requirement, including the infantry fighting vehicle, which will incorporate a new General Dynamics Land Systems-designed 30mm turret.

“AJAX incorporates cutting-edge and proven technology to provide an unparalleled balance of protection, lethality and mobility in a transportable medium-weight vehicle,” Mr Connell said.

“The AJAX family of vehicles offer an open generic vehicle architecture and modular armour system that delivers enormous potential to combat future threats and insert new technologies through the life of the vehicles.

“General Dynamics Land Systems–Australia is actively engaging with Australian industry to develop an innovative and sustainable on-shore supply chain to maximise the amount of work undertaken in Australia for LAND 400 Phase 3.

“AJAX’s common base platform will enable the nine required roles for LAND 400 Phase 3 to be delivered using only four variants, which will ensure a smaller logistics footprint and lower through-life cost thanks to the commonality of components across the fleet.

“These variants would allow the Australian Army to conduct sustained, expeditionary, full-spectrum and network-enabled operations in combined-arms and multinational situations across a wide-range of future operating environments.”

“We are drawing upon the very best from across General Dynamics to deliver the Australian Army with the latest generation AJAX-based solution that meets its needs, whilst maximising Australian industrial content on this flagship program.

“AJAX is the world’s most advanced family of armoured fighting vehicles and we want the Australian Army to have the very best solution available.”

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