This week in my Shadow Defence Team role I visited General Dynamics in Methryr Tydfil, a specialised engineering hub for the AJAX Armoured Fighting Vehicle that will be used by the British Army. Ajax is an advanced land vehicle system that will play a vital defence role once it has been fully rolled out operationally, with an in-service date of 2025 and full operational capability expected between late 2028 and 2029.

This timeline was revised in March 2023 by the Conservative Government from the initial expectation of the AJAX entering service in 2017. To date only 44 of the 589 AJAX vehicles expected have been received and the £5.5 billion programme has been beset by delays and problems. This has been subject to a Lessons Learnt review by Clive Sheldon QC, the recommendations of which James Cartlidge MP said in the House would be implemented in full.