Army to resume Ajax armoured vehicle trials after they made soldiers sick

Army to resume Ajax armoured vehicle trials after they made soldiers sick6 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleEleanor Storey,PA NewsandEleri Griffiths,BBC WalesGeneral DynamicsGeneral Dynamics said the safety of soldiers 'is, and has always been, our highest priority'.Trials of the Army's troubled Ajax armoured vehicles will resume "cautiously", with the defence minister acknowledging more work is needed to "rebuild confidence" in the transportation.Testing of the Ajax was paused last November after about 30 soldiers reported illness linked to noise and vibration during training exercise. Defence minister Luke Pollard said an investigation found the symptoms were likely caused by "a combination of factors" including technical issues, training variability, cold exposure and air quality.He said all affected personnel had since returned to duty, with most suffering only "temporary symptoms".PA MediaJohn Healey has announced a UK government investment of £50m in the defence sector in WalesDefence minister refuses to give timescale on troubled Ajax armoured vehiclesArmy halts use of Ajax vehicles after soldiers left vomitingThe multimillion pound Ajax vehicles are made in Merthyr Tydfil by General Dynamics, which employs around 700 people.At the start of the year, Mr Pollard faced pressure from MPs to provide clarity and act quickly in order to protect jobs in south WalesHowever, in February, he declined to set a timeline on the investigation into the programme.GD UK said it welcomed the conclusions of the Army safety investigation team and the decision by the MoD to resume acceptance and operation of Ajax vehicles under a "phased and carefully controlled approach.""The safety of soldiers is, and has always been, our highest priority," it said."GD UK has confidence in the performance and protection Ajax is designed to provide. It is the world's most advanced, fully digitised, ar...