UK troops treated for hearing problems in final tests of Ajax armoured vehicle | British army

This summer, soldiers had to receive medical treatment for hearing problems during the final tests of the British army’s new Ajax armored vehicle, the introduction of which was delayed for several years due to concerns about deafness.

The model, which costs £5.5 billion for 589 vehicles, was nevertheless classified as suitable for deployment in September. An investigation concluded there were “no systemic problems” – but health concerns remain among the troops involved.

A source said “people are still suffering”. It is understood that a small number of soldiers reported noise and vibration problems and required treatment at a military medical center.

Luke Pollard, a junior defense minister, said on Wednesday that Ajax’s noise and vibration problems were “definitely a thing of the past” at a launch event for the armored vehicle, which has been officially accepted into military service.

“If it wasn’t safe, we wouldn’t put it in the hands of our front-line troops,” Pollard said. “I have been reassured, from the top of the military all the way down to the people who work on the platform, that the platform is safe.”

But later, when the Defense Ministry was asked about the issues raised by the soldiers, a spokesperson acknowledged there had been problems. “When concerns were raised over the summer, they were investigated by a security team and no systemic issues were discovered,” they said.

The Defense Ministry would not say exactly how many people were treated after noise complaints, although it said no cases of motion sickness had been reported. The care took place in a primary care GP-type setting, he adds.

Concerns about service-related deafness have plagued the British military for decades. In September, thousands of British veterans filed a lawsuit against 3M, saying its combat earplugs, used in Afghanistan and elsewhere, were not effective. The American manufacturer claims that its product works if used correctly.

This week, journalists visited the Ajax manufacturing site, a General Dynamics factory in Merthyr Tydfil, and were transported on the 7.6 meter long tracked vehicle, which weighs around 40 tonnes and has a top speed of just over 40 mph (65 km/h).

A meter on a cell phone showed a reading of 90 decibels from a few feet away. Prolonged or repeated exposure to sounds above 85 decibels can cause hearing loss, and employers must provide protection if this level is exceeded, according to the Health and Safety Executive.

The crew and those on board were given a double layer of protection – earplugs and headphones – and the Ministry of Defense said safety had improved since the system was introduced. Soldiers on board or aboard a moving Ajax could move for six hours while staying three-quarters below safety limits, defense sources said.

Ajax has been delayed for several years, most recently due to concerns about noise and vibration. Its introduction was initially planned for 2017, then in 2020 and 2021, but the trials had to be interrupted in June 2021 for safety reasons.

One study, published in December 2021, found that 11 out of 310 people who tested Ajax had “long-term restrictions on noise exposure recommended” by a medical assessment, while 17 were under specialist outpatient care.

At the time, a defense minister in the then Conservative government said the episode showed the military did not value security as much as cost and value for money.