Ajax (Scout SV)

Ajax
Pre-production prototype of the turreted Ajax variant
Type	Armoured fighting vehicle
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Production history
Designer	General Dynamics UK
Manufacturer	General Dynamics UK
Specifications
Weight	38 tonnes with growth potential to 42 tonnes
Length	7.62 metres
Width	3.35 metres
Height	3.00 metres
Crew	2+4 passengers for PMRS variant
Main armament	CTA International CT40 40 mm cannon
Secondary armament	L94A1 coaxial 7.62 mm chain gun Kongsberg Protector Remote Weapon Station (PMRS Variant)
Engine	MTU 600 kW 8V engine
Transmission	RENK 6 speed HSWL 256B
Suspension	Torsion bar

The Ajax, formerly known as the Scout SV (Specialist Vehicle), is a family of armoured fighting vehicles being developed by General Dynamics UK for the British Army.

The Ajax is a development of the ASCOD armoured fighting vehicle used by the Spanish and Austrian armed forces. The family was originally developed by Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug and Santa Bárbara Sistemas in the early 1990s. Both companies were purchased by General Dynamics in the early 2000s.

In 2010, General Dynamics UK was selected as the winner of the Future Rapid Effect System contract with the ASCOD Common Base Platform, beating BAE Systems' CV-90 proposal. The Ajax family will be procured in a number of variants, initially planned to be in blocks, with the first vehicles planned to be delivered in 2017 and full operational capability being established by 2019.

The Ajax has its origins in the Future Rapid Effect System program going back to the 1990s when the joint UK/USA TRACER program was cancelled. The purpose of the FRES program was to find a replacement for the British Army's Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) (CVR(T)) family of vehicles, which have been in service from 1971. General Dynamics UK won the contract in March 2010 after years of competition from BAE Systems. After the Ministry of Defence had selected the ASCOD 2 Common Base Platform, BAE tried to reverse the decision by offering to manufacture the CV-90 at their Newcastle facility. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Defence awarded General Dynamics a £500 million Demonstration Phase contract. General Dynamics has conducted design review work using the input of soldiers and bringing the ASCOD 2 Chassis in line with the British requirements.