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08 Dec 25. UK LMV Market Interest Day Announced. The UK MoD Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) Project has inched forward a little with the publication of a Preliminary Market Engagement Notice.
UK DE&S Preliminary Market Engagement Notice: Abbey Wood, Bristol, 08 December 2025. [extracts]
Description: This is a calling notice for the Land Mobility Programme Team (LMP) team Early Market Engagement (EME) for the Light Mobility Vehicle Project (LMV). The purpose of this engagement is to engage with industry about the current requirement, explore key challenges and opportunities, and gain a clearer understanding of current market capabilities and offerings which may be relevant to how we deliver this requirement in the future. LMV is expected to deliver multiple options including delivery of a wheeled utility platform to modernise capability in roles currently filled by Land Rover and Pinzgauer with a Common Based Platform delivering warfighting roles across the Joint Force.
Total value (estimated)
- £750,000,000 excluding VAT
- £900,000,000 including VAT
Contract dates (estimated)
- 30 April 2027 to 30 April 2033
- 6 years, 1 day
CPV classifications
- 34100000 – Motor vehicles
- 34000000 – Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation
- 34113000 – 4-wheel-drive vehicles
- 34114000 – Specialist vehicles
- 34131000 – Pick-ups
- 34144000 – Special-purpose motor vehicles
Engagement deadline: 15 January 2026
Engagement process description: The engagement may use a number of different channels and forums during 2025 and 2026. This may include, but not be limited to, supplier briefs, requests for information, and supplier forum meetings to identify the level of Industry interest, gain feedback on our approach to contracting for this requirement, and to understand what approaches Industry deem suitable for the delivery and running of the contract, once awarded.
The first event will be a Market Interest Day on 15th January 2026, to be held at Blenheim Conference Centre, Warminster Garrison, BA12 0DJ. The event will consist of plenary sessions in the morning with presentations from senior members of the Land Mobility Programme and DE&S. These will provide attendees with an overview of the programme, high-level requirements, and high-level timescales.
The objectives of the event:
- Provide context on where the Light Mobility Vehicles (LMV) sub-programme sits within the wider Army modernisation initiatives
- Outline LMV sub-programme objectives
- Outline the initiatives that form part of the LMV sub-programme
- Outline LMV sub-programme progress to date
- Provide attendees with opportunity to understand the proposed next steps
- To seek Industry insights on the above
- Provide networking opportunities
- Include a Q&A session
A series of focus groups will be held in the afternoon where attendees will be invited to discuss a number of different topics which are pertinent to being able to deliver our capabilities in the future. These will include
- Exploring the Defence Industrial Strategy within the context of LMV
- Exploring the Support Solutions for LMV
- Exploring Integration for LMV
- Exploring Social Value for LMV
- Exploring Small and Medium Enterprises Across LMV
- Exploring the LMV Requirements
- Exploring Alternative Financing Arrangements in LMV
- Exploring Fleet Disposal Options in LMV
Editor’s Footnote: The five vehicles featured here are a representative selection of UK LMV contenders being promoted by major manufacturers or consortia but they are unlikely to be the only types offered for the ageing Land Rover and Pinzgauer fleet replacement programme.
(Source: joint-forces.com)
12 Dec 25. Tyron Runflat Goes Full Steam Ahead with Investment. Supporting the defence industry at a time of increased investment and spending, inventor of the world’s only multi-piece rubber Runflat system, Tyron Runflat is doubling its facility with the ambition to create its first UK centre of excellence within the next five years. Scaling its operation at pace, the expansion will facilitate further growth, robust testing and increase opportunity for research and development. As leaders within the defence industry for vehicle safety, the past year has seen Tyron launch its latest products – the lightest single-piece runflat and a discreet defence wheel. From off-road terrain to debris-strewn war zones, Tyron’s tyre safety solutions are used across the defence industry. Vulnerable to the possibility of a tyre deflation, the solutions provide a lifeline for an industry faced with harsh operating environments, tight regulations and extreme performance demands. To support its expanding facility, the business is set to implement a new design and development team in 2026, which will be managed by its new Director, Dr Stuart Turner.
Stuart Turner, Director at Tyron Runflat, commented: “After recently joining the Tyron team, this is an exciting next step in our business development. My background is in engineering design and materials science, so I’m delighted to be expanding our team capabilities within this area. My main focuses are business processes and diversifying our product ranges, so as we build a team to support these goals, we’re entering a new chapter of innovation. Our work isn’t only about creating our life saving product ranges, it’s about focusing on design, materials and product development. Used across an industry which demands high performance and durability, our products are the real difference between life and death for those in the defence industry. With this in mind, we’re constantly looking at innovating each of our products to provide the lightest and most reliable alternatives.”
Peter Simson, Director at Tyron Runflat, commented: “2025 has been a really big year for us and we continue to invest, progress and build our business. This latest expansion is one part of our 2026 goals to create a UK centre of excellence. We’re known for our industry-leading tyre safety solutions, as the inventor of the world’s only multi-piece rubber Runflat system. It remains paramount that we continue to invest back into our business to continually be advancing our product ranges, part of this is providing the space for our team to grow. I’m a firm believer in open workspaces where our teams can collaborate and remain engaged, this expansion further supports our aims for growth and our plans throughout the coming year.”
The Tyron Multiband system enables the tyre to lock onto the wheel rim in the event of a blowout, preventing catastrophic loss of control. The bands are tested and approved to 250kmph (156mph) for high-speed pursuit vehicles, improving passenger safety.
To learn more about Tyron Runflat and its Tyron Multiband, visit: www.tyron.co.uk.
10 Dec 25. Croatian Minister Anušić signed contracts for the delivery of 44 Leopard 2A8 tanks in Berlin. Leopard 2A8 tanks represent the most modern military technology related to armored combat vehicles, General Kundid said. In the presence of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, and the Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Friedrich Merz, in Berlin, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia and Minister of Defense, Ivan Anušić, signed the Agreed Document – Order Confirmation for the delivery of 44 Leopard 2A8 tanks to Croatia on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. Before that, at the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia, Minister Anušić signed an additional contract with the company KNDS Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG on the delivery of simulators and equipment, as well as an agreement on the provision of an extended warranty service for Leopard 2A8 tanks for a period of five years, starting from the delivery of the first tank. With these signatures, the realization of the strategic project of modernization of the armored and mechanized forces of the Croatian Army was launched. The total value of the procurement of 44 Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks, together with additional contracts for simulators and extended warranties, is EUR 1,483,938,969.77.
“Croatia, like a number of EU members, has decided to use the initiative, namely the EU financial instrument SAFE. Of the 1.7 billion euros approved for Croatia, we will use part of these funds to finance the procurement of 44 Leopard 2A8 tanks. Croatia is gradually abandoning eastern military technology and moving to western technology, and the partnership with Germany, through this and other examples, is one of the ways we continuously strengthen cooperation in the field of defense,” said Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.
Minister of Defense Ivan Anušić emphasized: “We are equipping the Croatian Army with the most modern Leopard 2A8 tanks, thus continuing the process of modernizing the Armed Forces and replacing Eastern military technology with Western technology. After more than 15 years of neglect, the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Ministry of Defense have been systematically investing in equipping and strengthening the capabilities of the Croatian Army since 2016, so that in these challenging geopolitical circumstances we have an equipped and efficient army that is the foundation of our nation’s security.”
“We are continuing this process by introducing basic military training and further raising the standards of members of the Armed Forces. The victorious Croatian army must never again be neglected,” the minister concluded.
Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid, said: “Equipment and modernization have made exponential progress, enabling the Armed Forces to reach a significantly higher level of existing combat power capabilities. These Leopard 2A8 tanks, which we have purchased, will provide the Armed Forces with a significantly higher level of maneuverability, firepower capabilities and the greatest possible protection for our crews inside the tanks. These tanks represent the most modern military technology in terms of armored combat vehicles.”
In addition to the signed contracts for 44 Leopard 2A8 tanks and 18 Caesar MK2 self-propelled howitzers, contracts for the procurement of anti-drone protection and those for the procurement of 420 Tatra heavy off-road trucks will be signed by the end of this year, the minister explained. These four major procurements are worth around 2 billion euros including VAT, and in addition to anti-drone protection, the remaining three military systems will be financed from the EU financial instrument SAFE.
Joint procurement of Leopard 2A8 tanks with the German Ministry of Defense
The joint procurement program for Leopard 2A8 tanks is being implemented in cooperation between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Ministry of Defense of the Federal Republic of Germany. The joint procurement of Leopard 2A8 tanks is being carried out by the Federal Ministry of Defense of the Federal Republic of Germany for all interested partner countries – Norway, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Croatia. 1,140,387,021 euros are financed from the European Union instrument SAFE from 2026 to 2030, while the amount of 343,551,948.77 euros, which refers to funds for the provision of extended warranty services, economic price increases and payment of VAT, will be provided in the state budget until 2033. Delivery of Leopard tanks is expected from 2028 to 2030. For the material assets that the Republic of Croatia transferred to Ukraine at the end of 2024, the Federal Ministry of Defence of the Federal Republic of Germany paid 144,800,000 euros into the State Budget for the allocation of the Ministry of Defence. These financial resources are intended for the procurement of new Leopard 2A8 tanks, i.e. the value of the procurement of these tanks will be reduced by this amount. Namely, the Republic of Croatia, on the initiative and in cooperation with the Federal Republic of Germany, transferred to Ukraine a part of the M-84 tanks and a part of the M-80 infantry fighting vehicles with the associated spare parts and ammunition, with a total value of 144,800,000 euros.
The most modern main battle tank Leopard 2A8
The acquisition of the main battle tank Leopard 2A8 represents a key step in the modernization of the Croatian Army and adaptation to the new security conditions in Europe. It is the latest generation of the proven German Leopard 2 platform, developed and manufactured by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall. For the Croatian Armed Forces, the transition from the M-84 tank to the Leopard 2A8 represents a technological leap forward of almost four decades, from the Soviet tank concept of the 1980s to a modern system that integrates digital control, active protection and NATO interoperability, making the Leopard 2A8 the foundation of the new generation of armored forces of the Croatian Army. Unlike previous versions, the Leopard 2A8 integrates the Trophy Active Protection System (APS) as a standard feature and has enhanced armor protection. The tank is also characterized by modern sensors, command and control and communication systems, and the digitalization of almost all subsystems, from power distribution to fire control and crew interface. (Source: Clarion)
09 Dec 25. Hanwha pledges 80% localization for Romania’s IFV program — offering what Rheinmetall cannot. South Korean defence company Hanwha Aerospace offers unmatched localization and industrial impact, providing up to 80% Romanian production compared with Rheinmetall’s Hungary-anchored model. It also brings technology transfer that would allow Romania to become an EU land-systems hub, covering development, production, and testing. Hanwha can deliver the full IFV fleet by 2030, making it the only contender able to meet Romania’s urgent timeline amid Europe’s security crisis. Its capabilities are proven, as the Redback outperformed the Lynx in Australia’s high-profile IFV competition. As Romania prepares to acquire major defence capabilities under the SAFE (Security Action for EU) framework, attention is intensifying around the country’s upcoming decision on its Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) program. Although the SAFE mechanism tends to advantage the established European defence primes, Hanwha Aerospace Romania has put forward a proposal compelling enough to break that pattern in line with its goals – offering a far more strategic and transformative vision for Romania’s defence and industrial future.
MAKE IT IN ROMANIA – Hanwha committed to achieving 80% localization in Romania
The most striking component of Hanwha’s Romanian IFV initiative is the 80% localization commitment, which far exceeds the EU SAFE rule’s 65% in-region production requirement. Hanwha stresses that this localization means genuine domestic manufacturing, substantial technology transfer, and high-skilled workforce development fully conducted inside Romania. This level of true in-country localization would ensure a strong and sustainable foundation for Romania’s defence industrial base into the future. Hanwha is scheduled to start constructing a state-of-the-art production facility in Dâmbovița, which will manufacture the K9 Self-Propelled Howitzers (SPHs) for Romania and other land-defence systems including IFVs and unmanned platforms. This integrated approach will significantly strengthen the capabilities of Romanian small- and medium-sized companies (SMEs), expand their role within the defence supply chain, and positioning Romania as a land-systems hub for Europe.
Excellence. Image: Hanwha Aerospace.
Industry observers argue that if Romania uses SAFE funds — which must eventually be repaid — then it should maximize domestic benefit through high localization, industrial revitalization, and the strengthening of Romanian SMEs uplifting their ability to meet demands not only for their own government but the wider SAFE defence industry ecosystem.
Peter Bae, Chief Executive Officer, Hanwha Aerospace Romania, highlighted the scale of the vision: “We are ready to develop Romania into a land systems manufacturing hub. From modern artillery and IFVs to futuristic autonomous systems, we can build a complete land-systems production lineup here in Romania. We are fully committed to executing 80% localization in Romania — meaning work performed by Romanian hands, Romanian industry, and in Romanian facilities.”
“This is a strategic decision for Romania’s defence ecosystem; it’s not just acquiring an IFV. It directly concerns Romania’s essential security interests because we are proposing to build long-term, sovereign capability inside Romania — production, technology, and sustainment that will strengthen the country’s defence readiness for decades.”
In contrast, Rheinmetall already operates its dedicated Lynx factory in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary — opened in 2023 — while key components such as advanced optics, electronic suites, and armor packages continue to be produced in Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. Given this existing industrial footprint, the program would therefore deliver only limited industrial benefit and minimal true localization for Romania, raising legitimate questions as to whether Rheinmetall could realistically fulfill any meaningful “Make it in Romania” commitment.
FULL-SCALE TECH TRANSFER – ensuring growth of Romania’s industrial capabilities
Hanwha’s technology transfer package is expected to play a central role in elevating Romania’s defence-industrial capabilities. Establishing a prduction base in Dâmbovița means not only manufacturing platforms locally but also transferring the core technologies, processes, and engineering know-how behind them.
Jake So, Chief Technology Officer of Hanwha Aerospace Romania, emphasized Romania’s strong industrial potential: “Through K9 SPH and potentially Redback IFV production, Romanian engineers would gain hands-on experience in hull fabrication, system integration, quality assurance, and testing—skills essential for building advanced land systems. Over time, such capabilities could enable Romania to develop and upgrade indigenous platforms of its own.”
Building on this, Hanwha identifies several core technology-transfer areas that would form the backbone of Romania’s future land-systems capability. These include hull and turret structures, powertrains, hydraulic subsystems, protection technologies, and communication systems. Local production would cover critical manufacturing processes such as welding, cutting, bending, machining, and full system integration, along with other essential capabilities required for sovereign development, testing, and long-term sustainment.
SUPPLY CHAIN ENHANCEMENT – strengthening Romania’s industrial sovereignty
Hanwha places the highest priority on strengthening the local Romanian supply chain. The company has already established partnerships with more than 30 local companies, ranging from component suppliers to advanced manufacturing and engineering firms.
Mr. Bae stated: “We aim to build a robust, sustainable, and high-value industrial base together with our Romanian partners. Our plan is to expand the local supplier network to more than 100 companies in the coming years. This will ensure that a significant portion of value creation remains inside Romania and that local companies gain sustained defence-industry workshare as well as access to new technologies through continuous transfer and co-development.”
The economic effects are expected to be substantial. The operation of the Dâmbovița facility is projected to generate more than 2,000 direct and indirect jobs as K9 howitzer and Redback IFV production gets underway. As the facility expands to include full IFV manufacturing, modernization programs, and long-term sustainment work, the employment and industrial impact is expected to grow even further — driving demand for skilled labor, specialized engineering talent, and next-generation manufacturing capabilities across Romania’s defence sector. This job creation effect reflects not only factory operations but also the wider supply-chain activation among Romanian SMEs.
REDBACK COMMONALITY – strategic advantages in defence readiness
The Redback maintains an exceptional level of commonality with Romania’s existing and future land systems. It shares its engine, transmission, and drivetrain architecture with the K9 Self-Propelled Howitzer, a platform Romania is set to field in significant numbers. This commonality creates immediate advantages in production efficiency, fleet sustainment, spare-parts management, operator and maintainer training, and long-term lifecycle support. (Source: Google/DIE)
10 Dec 25. Syria parades new Turkish APCs. The Syrian Armed Forces displayed its new 6×6 Nurol Ejder armoured personnel carriers (APCs) during its first Liberation Day parade in Damascus on 8 December. The parade included 12 of the Turkish-made APCs, which are a relatively obscure type that until recently was used only by Georgia. It was reported in 2024 that, having proved unreliable, the 72 Ejders Georgia received from 2008 had been returned to Türkiye in exchange for new BMC Vuran armoured vehicles. An Ejder was then seen in Somalia during a graduation ceremony for recruits at the Turkish training facility in Mogadishu in July. Later that month, several Ejders with Georgian camouflage were filmed being carried on transporters at a location that could be identified as one south of the Bab al-Hawa crossing on Syria’s border with Türkiye. The vehicles in the Liberation Day parade had been repainted in the tan colour now used by the Syrian Armed Forces but were not armed with machine guns. (Source: Janes)
09 Dec 25. GDELS growth strategy on track: Groundbreaking ceremony at the Immenstaad production site. With today’s groundbreaking ceremony for its new site in Immenstaad at Lake Constance, General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) has reached another milestone in its 24/500 strategy for Germany. The company is investing in a new plant for the assembly and integration of wheeled armored vehicles. In addition to 10,000 m² of production hall, offices and social areas will be built. Upon completion at the end of 2026, approximately 100 employees will work at the new site in Baden-Württemberg, primarily skilled production workers. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by local and regional political decision-makers as well as by the constituency’s member of the German Bundestag.
“The new production facility will be constructed from the ground up according to the latest guidelines and with state-of-the-art equipment. From the very beginning of the planning process, we placed particular emphasis on maximum flexibility to be able to swiftly adapt to potentially growing and changing customer requirements in the future,” emphasized Dr. Thomas Kauffmann, Vice President and Managing Director of GDELS Germany.
Giuseppe Chillari, GDELS Vice President and Managing Director of GDELS-Mowag, based in Kreuzlingen, emphasized the ideal location: “Immenstaad is an ideal location not only due to the significant establishment of other important companies of our industry sector, but above all because of its strategic location, which greatly facilitates close networking with our existing facilities in Rhineland-Palatinate, Bavaria, and Switzerland. With our new vehicle plant, we are joining the collective labor agreement of Südwestmetall and look forward to contributing to the economic development of the region as a new employer.”
“The substantial investment and increase in personnel in Germany are resulting from our commitments to the German Armed Forces, which we will fulfill with proven reliability and without delay. At the same time, we are strengthening and expanding our capacities at all locations in Europe,” said GDELS President Antonio Bueno. 2 GDELS PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
The 24/500 growth strategy envisions the accelerated expansion of GDELS’ manufacturing and service capacities in Germany. This includes not only the two additional production facilities in Oberpfaffenhofen and Immenstaad, but also capacity expansion at the Kaiserslautern/Sembach and Neubrandenburg locations. The two southern German sites will operate under the new name “GDELS Fahrzeugwerke”.
09 Dec 25. Ajax safety fears: We’ll end this saga one way or another, Pollard tells MPs. Once investigations into the safety of the Ajax armoured vehicle are complete, the Government will make “whatever decisions are required to end this saga one way or another”, Luke Pollard has insisted. Three probes are underway into the beleaguered vehicle, one by the Defence Accident Investigation Branch and one by the Army Safety Investigation Team as well as a ministerial review. The Army suspended the use of Ajax last month after 31 soldiers became unwell due to noise and vibration issues while operating the AFV during Exercise Titan Storm on Salisbury Plain, having spent up to 15 hours in the vehicles.
Injuries continue to mount
Defence Readiness and Industry Minister Mr Pollard said he was disgusted to hear of the soldiers’ injuries – after he himself had declared the vehicle safe. The Ajax family of vehicles, which was originally intended to enter service in 2017, had suffered long delays because of noise and vibration injuries to some of the soldiers who had been testing the vehicles.
But early last month Ajax – which comprises six vehicle types based on the same chassis – was given Initial Operating Capability (IOC) status, which meant it could be deployed as a squadron on operations.
Written assurances
At the time, Mr Pollard said the Ajax programme had “left its troubles behind” and was “demonstrably safe”. But after more soldiers kept becoming ill, he said his declaration of the vehicle’s safety had been based on assurances he’d been given from senior officials.
Mr Pollard said he’d received written assurances from the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Roly Walker, and the then-national armaments director, Andy Start, that Ajax was safe before he declared it had reached IOC.
Support from Cartlidge
Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said he had also been told Ajax was safe when he was defence procurement minister, and said he was “furious” that he seemed to have been given false assurances.
He said: “Can I begin by stating how shocking it was to hear of the Army exercise which took place on November 22 that resulted in over 30 casualties among soldiers operating Ajax, with reporting symptoms ranging from sickness to hearing loss.
“This is particularly disturbing for me, as these renewed incidents with noise and vibration sound strikingly similar to the problems that I was assured, as minister for defence procurement, had been resolved.
“The minister [Mr Pollard] confirmed in the Defence Committee that he had received similar assurances when he agreed to announce Ajax had reached the key milestone of Initial Operating Capability on November 6.
“The minister and I may have our political differences but, on this, can I suggest we have something in common? We have both been misled about the viability of the Ajax programme.”
Facts, not speculation
Mr Pollard said he would not comment on the results of the ongoing investigations, which he said would involve an external organisation with experience of noise and vibration.
He said: “While investigations remain ongoing, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the potential outcomes or speculate on the causes of these symptoms.”
However, he said Government officials had been having daily meetings with General Dynamics, the company responsible for manufacturing Ajax, since the day of the training exercise when the injuries were sustained.
Change may be required
Mr Pollard suggested the way defence procurement is carried out might have to change.
He said it was “too expensive and it doesn’t allow for spiral development in the way it needs to”.
“The procurement of Ajax was a novel form where the platform was procured and brought into service, and iterations then retrofitted onto each platform,” he explained.
“That is an area that I’m looking at to see whether that model, that type of procurement, is right for the platforms that we’re looking to buy.”
Mr Pollard said he hoped to make a further statement about Ajax ahead of the Christmas recess on 18 December. (Source: https://www.forces.net/)
BATTLESPACE Comment: The doomsayers predictions of outright cancellation of Ajax are overdone. Sources suggest that there is at east £1bn in the March 2026 Budget for the various upgrades required. The vehicle will run under peacetime operating mode up to then.
08 Dec 25. US “revise” AMPV contract to prevent a break in production. The Army will buy 240 more vehicles to bridge a potential two-year break in production. The US Army has agreed to pay for the production of 240 more Armoured Multipurpose Vehicles (AMPVs) to avoid any disruption to the continuous ordering cycle. Originally, the service was contracted to purchase 2,907 AMPVs back in January 2019 to replace its legacy fleet of M113s, of which there are currently 2,897 in service after more than 60 years. This revision will “prevent a break in production”, thus averting the sheer cost of restarting BAE Systems’ production line in York, Pennsylvania and risking disruption to an already shaky global supply chain. The contract authority did not state what type of AMPV will be procured specifically, however there are five variants: the General Purpose, Mortar Carrier, Mission Command, Medical Treatment and Medical Evacuation vehicles.
Reduced production?
The government anticipates the work to be completed by the end of May 2028, suggesting the “break” period would have lasted more than two years. This data point also indicates another reduction in the rate of production. According to information from the Congressional Research Service, the rate has already fallen from 190 to 131 units per year as of FY2024 and this was expected to remain the same until at least 2027. However, the rate of production according to this interim tranche is scheduled to produce fewer vehicles in the coming two years than the current rate of production suggests. Nevertheless, the move to procure 240 more AMPVs will cost the government $198.4m, which will stretch the cumulative value of the AMPV framework to more than $2.4bn.
Acquisition reform
In November 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a new strategy for defence acquistion as part of the government’s wider social and fiscal reforms. The document provided new ways of identifying new equipment, the act of buying, and how the US will work with allies in defence procurement. Among these new policies, besides increasing capital and ensuring a return on taxpayer funds, the administration is committed to invest more money in its defence programmes than it has before.
“This new balance of risk sharing with industry through stable demand signals and the correct incentives will enable industry to meet increased expectations of reinvestment of earnings and the deployment of private capital to drive growth.”
The AMPV fleet increase aligns with this new strategic policy of providing a clear demand signal to industry but also to put US defense on what Hegseth said was to be a “war footing”.
Jim McGinn, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, told Army Technology that “if the government customer wants different behaviours, they have to create different incentives, and that’s either buying more stuff, or buying stuff differently, or giving other kinds of ways that companies can invest.” (Source: army-technology.com)
09 Dec 25. The British Army’s faulty Ajax vehicles come back to rattle Parliament. A British government minister has vowed to put an end to the “saga” of dangerous vibrations in the U.K.’s new Ajax armored vehicles, as opposition politicians call for the program to be fixed or scrapped. Three enquiries are now underway into the noisy vibrations in the General Dynamics vehicles during an exercise held just after they were given initial operating capability status. The vehicles were promptly parked as 30 soldiers riding in them took ill, with some reportedly vomiting. The armored vehicles had been declared fully functioning after nine years of delays to the £6.3 bn ($8.4 bn) program and repeated problems with vibrations.
“Prior to Ajax’s initial operating capability being announced, I asked for and was given assurances in writing by senior Ministry of Defence personnel that the system was safe,” Luke Pollard, the U.K. Minister of State for Defence Readiness and Industry told the U.K. parliament on Monday.
He added he was now having daily meetings with General Dynamics which has built the vehicles in the U.K.
“Let me be clear, we will take whatever decisions are required to end this saga one way or another,” he said.
So far around 160 vehicles have been built and the U.K. is expected to order 589 of the vehicles. After Pollard spoke, a former minister for defense procurement, James Cartlidge also addressed the parliamentary session.
“These renewed incidents with noise and vibration sound strikingly similar to the problems that I was assured, when I was minister for defense procurement, had been resolved,” he said.
“We have both been misled about the viability of the Ajax program,” he added.
“Surely the only possible conclusion is that the Ajax vehicle is fundamentally flawed,” he said, demanding General Dynamics “must be held to account.”
Cartlidge stated, “I imagine the minister is as furious as I am at being repeatedly given what have turned out to be false assurances by those responsible for the program. He is now left with a binary choice, fix it or fail it.”
Pollard responded, “I too was disgusted when I heard the news of the injuries to our service personnel, especially after the point the vehicles were assured to be safe.”
He held out the possibility that a fix was possible.
“Getting to the bottom to what has happened is really important because the Ajax vehicle has completed 42,000 km of testing without those injuries taking place,” he said, adding, “not all the vehicles on that exercise caused injuries.” (Source: Defense News)
Defence Eye Comment: As John Healey ponders the fate of the Ajax family of armoured vehicles, attention has focused on how the army could cope if the defence secretary gives it the thumbs down. On many levels, the demise of Ajax would be a disaster for the British Army. At a stroke it would not get 589 new armoured reconnaissance vehicles, its reputation would take another massive hit – what is it with the British Army and buying AFVs? – and more than £5bn that has already been spent on the programme would be wasted. This latter point is particularly damaging, because it could mean there is no money left to buy any replacement vehicles. While there may well be no way back for the British Army’s reputation as a successful overseer of armoured vehicle programmes, the other down deltas may not be as catastrophic as they appear at first glance. The first thing to note is that the world – and the British Army – has changed dramatically since September 2014, when the original Ajax order was placed. Back then, General Nick Carter was in charge of the British Army. His big idea was the Strike Concept, which envisaged fielding four armoured reconnaissance regiments, each equipped only with Ajax. Fast-forward to 2025, and the Royal Armoured Corps has moved on from the Strike Concept. As a result of lessons from the Ukraine war and NATO deployments of the enhanced forward battle group to Estonia and a reconnaissance squadron to Poland, in 2022 the RAC began experimenting with mixed reconnaissance squadrons. These new units combined three reconnaissance troops, each with Warriors (as surrogate Ajax), wheeled Jackal patrol vehicles and anti-tank guided weapons. This structure has since been rolled out across three armoured reconnaissance regiments, and one Challenger 2 regiment will now not convert into an Ajax equipped unit. As a result, the British Army was now looking at having a surplus of Ajax vehicles and allowed the RAC and the Infantry to find new roles for them. As a result, each Challenger 2 regiment has been assigned a reconnaissance troop equipped with eight Ajax turreted variants to replace the Warrior vehicles currently in use for this role. Then the Infantry got in on the act and came up with a plan to field Ares armoured personnel carrier variants in its four armoured infantry battalions, with each getting at least one company’s worth of Ares, with around 40 to 50 vehicles in total. So, the demise of Ajax would not mean that the British Army would need to buy 589 new vehicles. Smaller batches of different types of vehicles could be bought instead, and not all would be needed at the same time. This would help the British Army out of its funding crisis, caused by the cancellation of Ajax. The three RAC armoured reconnaissance regiments would probably only need 60 or so Ajax replacements. While the three Challenger 2 regiments’ recce troops would add a further 24. That suggests a requirement for 80 to 100 armoured recce vehicles. How to fill the gap created by the four armoured infantry battalions by the demise of the 127 Ares variants is trickier, but the Infantry could bite the bullet and simply equip them with Boxers. The calculations of these combinations of new vehicles would need to be done, but it could be considerably less than the £5.5bn spent on developing and manufacturing Ajax, particularly if true off-the-shelf vehicles were ordered, with minimal bespoke British Army modifications and kit – the 1,400+ “engineering changes” to Ajax are one reason why the programme has not gone smoothly… If the price could be kept to £3-4m per vehicle, then the 200 or so vehicles could be purchased for under £1bn. The Ajax order included around 300 specialist variants, including engineering, fire support, armoured recovery, repair, and command variants. With the requirement for Ajax-exclusive regiments gone, the need for the majority of these specialist variants falls away – there are equally capable, but cheaper alternatives for these roles. The final piece of the Ajax replacement jigsaw is finding the money to pay for any new vehicles. According to a Ministry of Defence contract announcement in November, a contract was placed with General Dynamics for £1.2bn of in-service support for Ajax for five years. A subsequent contract notice for £834m was announced by the MoD, but it is not clear if this was a revised contract or an additional contract. If cancelled, General Dynamics could expect payment of their 5% profit, as per Single Source Regulations Office terms – the contract was not completed, so will be profit capped. At best, this would leave the British Army with £1.9bn or, at worst, £795m to spend on new vehicles. This is potentially enough to buy a good chunk of any replacement vehicles. The Ajax debacle might not be the end of the world for the British Army. It might have a silver lining, allowing it to buy more modern vehicles that are better suited to the new roles envisaged for them. There is a phase attributed to Prime Minister Winston Churchill, “never let a good crisis go to waste”, which might apply to this situation.
05 Dec 25. Poland says US offering 250 used Strykers for $1, with Warsaw prepared to accept. US Strykers currently in Europe would be transferred to Poland rather than shipped back to the US following a force reduction on the continent, under a proposed plan. The United States has offered to sell Poland 250 used Stryker vehicles for a single ceremonial dollar, and Warsaw is preparing to accept that deal as soon as the logistics can be worked out, according to Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. According to Polish Radio, the general staff of the Polish Armed Forces has endorsed accepting the deal, a key hurdle for any such plan.
“After a preliminary analysis, we agreed that the military will check their technical condition and assess their suitability for our armed forces — is this good material for training, operational operations, or do we need this type of equipment … ” Kosiniak-Kamysz explained. “I’m open to a positive recommendation regarding the usefulness of this equipment.”
The US State Department did not return request a request for comment. After publication, a spokesperson for US Army Europe clarified that “The referenced activity concerns legacy equipment involved in a foreign military sales process and is not related to U.S. force posture in Europe.” There are some obvious hurdles, at least on paper, to such a deal. For one, the depleted Strykers will require repairs, modernization, and the preparation of their entire support base and training system, as the vehicles have not been used by Poland before. This could be a costly and time-consuming solution, while outsourcing this work to foreign companies could further increase costs. Secondly, there could be an industrial impact, at a time when the Polish government has prioritized domestic production with its weapons agreements. Presumably, the Strykers will fill a spot in the Polish army’s requirements that have been earmarked for the Rosomak IFVs and potential future carriers, limiting the need for domestic orders. The army currently has more than 900 Rosomak IFVs which are now produced in-country as a modified version with the ZSSW-30 turret. To date, 35 of those vehicles have been delivered to the 21st Podhale Rifles Brigade. However, Kosiniak-Kamysz made a simple argument: The more weapons the Polish military has, the better, and the price is certainly right. He also noted that by learning to operate various types of equipment, Polish soldiers are preparing for cooperation with allied forces, several of which use the Strykers. Poland’s land forces currently suffer from a serious shortage of modern armored vehicles. The BWP-1 Soviet amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicles, in service for several decades, are now completely outdated, and their numbers are insufficient, especially after donations to Ukraine.
Gen. Wiesław Kukuła, chief of the general staff of the Polish Armed Forces, also downplayed concerns that introducing this new type of weapon in the army will be an obstacle to the Polish defense industry, and downplayed concerns about potential vehicle repairs and overhauls.
During a back and forth on the social media platform X, Kukuła wrote: “We received a donation proposal from the US side, analyzed it, and prepared recommendations for the AA [Armaments Agency]. As agreed with the US, the next step is a direct inspection of the technical condition. Then a decision will be made.”
Added the general: “The final decision should be made in the second half of next year. Unless the security situation deteriorates dramatically…”
Acceptance Of First Borsuk IFVs
In other vehicle news, Kosiniak-Kamysz on Thursday visited Huta Stalowa Wola for the official acceptance of the first 15 Borsuk amphibious infantry fighting vehicles to the Polish Armed Forces’ 15th Giżycko Mechanized Brigade. This marks the first delivery under a March agreement for 111 Borsuk vehicles, priced at zł 6.57 bn ($1.81 bn). The Borsuk is a tracked IFV, armed with a 30mm Mk.44S Bushmaster cannon, machine gun and twin spike ATGM launchers. Each vehicle has an operational crew of three, and is able to transport six soldiers. Poland has previously declared a need for as many as 1,400 Borsuk vehicles, 300 of which might be specialized vehicles. Notably, the defense minister said Warsaw is preparing “another order for another batch” of Borsuk vehicles, and while he did not say how many or when that deal might come, he indicated that Poland sees multiple mission sets in the future.
“Other versions will also be needed: command vehicles, support vehicles for chemical troops. We are working on various modifications in all these programs, both amphibious and those that do not require amphibious capabilities,” he said.
Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized that he would like the Borsuk to become a Polish export product: “I believe that 2026 should be the year of promoting the Borsuk worldwide. All our attaché offices and diplomatic missions will be obligated to present and hold meetings with the armed forces of our allies or friends to whom we wish to supply it,” he announced. (Source: Breaking Defense.com)
08 Dec 25. Reader Comment: The British Army 2025
- No IFV
- No Trucks
- No Armoured recce vehicle
- No SHORAD – gone to Ukraine, OSD in 2026
- No self-propelled artillery (OK, 14 x Acher)
- 2 x regiments of tanks
- 60-year-old APC
- Obsolete 4×4 Land Rover
- Any drones??
….. and for how long?
Whither the British Army? Or is it just wither the British Army……
Desperately Depressed Vet!!!!
04 Dec 25. BORSUK – On December 4, in Stalowa Wola, Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Minister Paweł Bejda, Head of the Armaments Agency of General Dyw. Artur Kuptel participated in the ceremony of handing over to the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland of the first 15 serial examples of the BORSUK (BADGER) infantry fighting vehicle.
“I would like to mention my noble predecessor, Minister Tomasz Siemoniak, who in 2013 was the Minister of National Defence and started the entire construction process. I would like to thank all those who later did not change the decision of Minister Siemoniak and continued the project until we accelerated in 2024-2025, thanks to which it became a fact and we could conclude an executive agreement and prepare another one – as the President had just said – for 111 BORSUKs. That’s not our last word. Together with Minister Bejda, with General Kuptel, the head of the Armaments Agency, we are preparing for another order for the next party of the BORSUKs for the Polish Army. Of course, work is also underway – as I would like to inform you – on the modifications. Other versions will also be needed – equally useful: as command vehicles, as support vehicles for chemical troops. We work in all these programmes on various modifications, both floating and those that will not need swimming abilities. Our BORSUKs do not fall into winter sleep. Our BORSUK does not sleep – he is ready to work all year round, he is ready for operational activities on all days of the year, in all conditions in which he will have to operate,” said the head of the Ministry of Defence during a meeting with soldiers and employees of Huta Stalowa Wola.
The first 15 BORSUK Infantry Fighting Vehicles have been handed over to the Polish Army [© Polish MoD]
The handover of the first 15 examples of BWP BORSUK to the Polish Armed Forces is the implementation of the first executive agreement, signed on 27 March 2025. The agreement, concluded between the Armament Agency, representing the State Treasury of the Republic of Poland, and a consortium of companies composed of: Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa S.A. and Huta Stalowa Wola S.A. concerns the supply of 111 infantry combat vehicles BORSUK. The value of the contract is about 6.57 bn PLN gross. The delivery was determined for the years 2025-2029. The agreement also includes, among others, a training and logistics package.
“From the moment of the idea, assumptions, staged tests, perfection of the whole product – all this causes that it takes a long time. I would like the next solutions, the next versions that we are working on lasted shorter, because we do not have time. (…) Huta Stalowa Wola is a pride not only for Stalowa Wola, for local authorities, for the residents – it is the pride of the whole Podkarpacie, it is our Polish pride. Here, arms facilities matter,” The Deputy Prime Minister said.
The BORSUK infantry combat vehicle is a modern, floating vehicle designed to transport and protect infantry soldiers from firearms, anti-tank grenade launchers and IEDs. BORSUK’s weapons are a 30 mm Mk 44S Bushmaster gun, a double PPK Spike launcher and a 7.52mm universal UKM-2000C machine gun. The weaponry is located in the ZSSW-30 remotely controlled turret system. BORSUK has very high tactical mobility, high firepower, as well as a high level of ballistic and anti-mine resistance.
“The BORSUK was tested in 15. Giżycka Mechanised Brigade by soldiers who gave an unequivocal opinion: BORSUK is an excellent infantry combat vehicle. Our soldiers are waiting for this ‘child’ who was born here in Huta Stalowa Wola, because this combat infantry vehicle first fills the gaps after the old, outdated equipment, and at the same time gives a sense of security to the soldiers. (…) Thanking all those who have taken action since 2013 to make the Polish Army use modern and safe equipment. Huge applause for you, for the builders, for the engineers, for all those who were visionaries. Huge applause for you – employees of Huta Stalowa Wola. I want to tell you that this is not the last order in the Polish arms industry. And as the Prime Minister said, we are putting up an equal sign between the state arms industry, which is subject to the Polish Armaments Group and the private arms industry. You are all needed. All hands on deck in relation to what is happening at the moment behind the eastern border, in Ukraine. Poland’s security is a priority,” said Deputy Minister Paweł Bejda, responsible in the Ministry of Defence for the modernisation of the Polish Army. (Source: joint-forces.com)
08 Dec 25. Project Hoefyster still has many years to go. Denel will only complete product baseline development of the six main variants of the Badger infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) by the end of 2027 and production will proceed, with help from the broader industry, but details are still being finalised with the Department of Defence (DoD), Armscor, and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). On 26 November, Denel gave a briefing to the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans (PCDMV) on the status of Project Hoefyster and its way forward. The company explained that a contract for the development and delivery over 66 months of five combat variant engineering development models (EDMs) including logistics, ammunition and simulators was placed in May 2007, with a value of R1 bn. Denel explained the original requirement from the SA Army was for 264 vehicles to supplement the Ratel fleet (taken into service in 1974) but the funded requirement was 244 Badger vehicles: 97 Section Variants, 52 Command Variants, 14 Fire Support Variants, 14 Missile Variants, 29 Mortar Variants, 8 Ambulance Variants, 13 Signal Variants, 12 Basic Observation Artillery Variants (Mortar Variant based) and 5 Tactical Command Post Variants (Command Variant based). The contract’s first phase (development) was supposed to be fulfilled by May 2012. However, Denel was unable to meet the deadline. This was supposed to be followed by phase two industrialisation and production, with deliveries scheduled for 2019, then end 2023. These deadlines have slipped, with Denel saying delays included financial challenges experienced by Denel from 2016, technical complexities, underestimation of the software qualification process/effort, extensive re-testing and development cycles etc. Other issues were high turnover of Denel and Armscor staff, lack of stakeholder oversight, cost escalation etc.
The bottom line, according to Denel’s presentation to the PCDMV, is the “current acquisition plan is not executable”.
Denel is, however, recording slow progress establishing product baselines for the Badger under Phase 1 development. For the Section Variant, product baseline was completed in July 2025, but before this variant can go into industrialisation/production, Denel proposes obsolescence, stock usability, landmine tests, software optimisation and unfinished work be addressed between January and July 2026. The Fire Support Variant and Command Variant product baselines are estimated to be completed by end of April 2026 and June 2026 respectively at Denel. Missile Variant and Mortar Variant product baslines are estimated to be completed by the end of April 2027 and June 2027 respectively, whereas the final Logistics baselines are estimated to be completed by November 2027.
To date, R7.7bn has been paid for Project Hoefyster, and a further R6.6 bn is needed to complete production. However, “Available on the DoD Financial Management System is R1 927 383 538,” Denel said. The scope, schedule and funding of Phase 2 industrialisation/production is under review between Armscor, Denel and the Department of Defence. The Armaments Acquisition Council (AAC) convened a meeting on 10 July to make a decision and give guidance on the way forward for Project Hoefyster and came to the conclusion that the requirement for the vehicle remains valid “and aligned with the strategic capability enhancement objectives of the SANDF.”
“In light of the substantial investment already committed towards fulfilling this operational need, the project is to proceed with the completion of Phase 1 Development and Phase 2 Industrialisation and Production,” Denel stated.
“Armscor and Denel Project members continue to assess the impact of the delays on the project and explore alternative avenues to advance and expedite the project, while ensuring alignment with strategic priorities.”
Denel told the PCDMV a Ministerial Task Team has been convened for the exploration of avenues to advance project industrialisation and production. This team includes the Secretary for Defence, Chief of the SANDF, and CEOs of Armscor and Denel, amongst others.
Denel will investigate potential partnerships and collaborative initiatives with a prioritisation of local industry participation to move Project Hoefyster forward. On 19 November, Denel sent out a request for information (RFI) to suppliers/original equipment manufacturers of 8×8 vehicles to gather information on product specifications, costs, and collaborations.
“The scope, schedule and funding of Phase 2 Industrialisation/Production is still under review between Armscor, Denel and DoD. A proposed phased approach to deliver the three battalions of vehicles as funding is secured is being explored,” Denel said. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
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