Turret System for AJAX Vehicle

Lockheed Martin UK's site in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, is home to an advanced manufacturing capability. The 64 acre site has benefited from multi-million pound investment and now boasts 20,000m 2 of state-of-the-art production facilities. It is a centre of excellence, unique to the UK, for armoured fighting vehicles, turret systems, and vehicle systems integration. Hundreds of highly skilled engineers work on major projects, including two high-profile programmes for the UK MoD.

Turret System for AJAX Vehicle

Developed by General Dynamics UK, the AJAX programme includes six variants: AJAX, ARES, APOLLO, ATHENA, ATLAS and ARGUS.  Each AJAX variant will be a highly-agile, tracked, medium- weight armoured fighting vehicles, providing British troops with state-of-the-art best-in-class protection.

AJAX will be the medium weight core of the British Army’s deployable intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability. It enables the soldier to be at the point of collection of accurate all-weather commander information within a network-enabled digitised platform.

Lockheed Martin UK has been awarded a $1bn contract to deliver 245 turrets for the AJAX reconnaissance variant. Lockheed Martin’s technology-leading turret solution contributes significantly to the ISTAR, survivability and lethal combat capabilities provided by AJAX.

The design, manufacture, integration and testing of all 245 turrets is taking place at the Ampthill site. We are working with our supply chain, which includes a number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the UK to deliver the requirement.

In addition Lockheed Martin is on contract to deliver the turrets training solutions, via support in an Appended Turret (AT), Desk Top Trainer (DTT), Crew Turret Trainer (CTT) and Small Arms Drill Trainer (SADT).

AJAX Manned Fire