General Dynamics displays the anti-tank missile variant in the AJAX family of tracked armored vehicles at DSEI 2021, International Defense Exhibition in London, UK. The vehicle is equipped with Brimstone missiles mounted on the top of the ARES variant which is the reconnaissance version in the Ajax family.
General Dynamics Ajax light tracked armored vehicle in anti-tank variant fitted with Brimstone missile launcher stations at DSEI 2021. (Picture source Army Recognition)
The AJAX is a new generation of light tracked vehicles fully designed and developed by the company General Dynamics to replace the CVRT light reconnaissance vehicles in service with the British army. Initially, the Ajax was to be procured in a number of variants totaling 1,010 vehicles. The first order of vehicles included Scout Reconnaissance, Ares Armoured Personnel Carrier, and Repair and Recovery variants, which can be followed by another order of other variants consisting of Reconnaissance, command post, and Ambulance variants. In option, the third variant of vehicles encompassing a Direct Fire vehicle with a 120mm main gun, Manoeuvre Support, and a Joint Fires variant able to be used as an anti-tank vehicle.
Ajax vehicles have much higher survivability against a wide range of modern and evolving threats, enabled by all-around modular protection (including Mastiff levels of blast protection), acoustic detection, powerful far-target thermal sights, and local situational awareness sensors.
The Ajax is motorized with a 600kW Diesel engine coupled to an automatic transmission. The torsion bar suspension on each side consists of seven dual rubber-tired road wheels with the drive sprocket at the front and idler at the rear. The vehicle can run at a maximum road speed of 70 km with a maximum cruising range of 500 km.
The anti-tank version of the Ajax is based on the ARES which is the reconnaissance version fitted with two launcher stations each armed with four ready-to-fire Brimstone missiles. The missile can be used to destroy armored vehicles and main battle tanks. It is equipped with a dual-mode millimeter-wave/semi-active laser (mmW/SAL) seeker that empowers it to engage fast-moving vehicles or vessels on land and at sea and in direct and indirect modes of operation.
