British Army Deploys Ajax Reconnaissance Vehicles Across Key Armored Regiments

The British Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) confirmed the deployment of the Ajax reconnaissance tracked armoured vehicle across three of its key Armoured Cavalry Regiments. Additionally, reconnaissance troops within the British Army’s Armoured Regiments will also receive the Ajax.

According to the Army Recognition website, in the standard British Army structure, an Armoured Cavalry Regiment consists of a Regimental Headquarters and several Reconnaissance Squadrons. Each squadron is composed of three to four reconnaissance troops, with each troop operating multiple vehicles. In the Ajax configuration, regiments will operate variants such as the turreted Ajax, the Ares personnel carrier, and supporting command, repair, and recovery platforms. This composition enables units to perform tasks including scouting, screening, target acquisition, and mobile fire support, while maintaining high maneuverability and stealth.

By early 2025, over 90 Ajax vehicles had been delivered, with more than 180 expected by the end of the year. The British Army plans to achieve Full Operating Capability (FOC) between October 2028 and September 2029, with Ajax forming the reconnaissance core of the future Deep Reconnaissance Strike Brigade and two Armoured Brigade Combat Teams.

The Ajax program has drawn criticism from defence analysts and service members, who have voiced concerns regarding the vehicle's survivability in an era of drone-dominated warfare, saturated with cheap, commercially available drones. Nonetheless, Ajax remains central to the British Army’s future capability. With its blend of firepower, mobility, digital integration, and specialized variants, Ajax is set to redefine the role of armoured reconnaissance, supporting British forces across a wide range of missions—from high-intensity conflict to multinational operations within NATO and beyond.