Requirements. Really no need to reinvent the wheel (track?) here. You need something that can carry about a section, and fighting order, it needs to meet STANAG protection, in small and medium arms, blast etc etc. Ot needs to be able to shoot, move, communicate and see in all

But it’s all changed Pagey! Erm - not really. This is about closing with the enemy when you need to. Holding or dominating ground when you don’t, and being able to fight to, from and through objectives, with and without your dismounts and pretty much always in a combined arms

Modular. Your platform now needs to be modular for weapons, optics, comms and software tbat drives all of that. Stand off. Just like medieval times you want as much stand off as possible. That means vision beyond line of sight (BLOS) and the ability to hide and survive

Because people are so valuable, and the threat is evolving, it would be even better if you had an option or pathway to optionally crewed vehicles. Which is what the US, Israelis and others have been considering. Even the Ruzzians are designing crew protected compartments and

Last, the UK is only going to order a small batch compared to other Nations including Norway, Finland, Poland, Germany and of course the US. So it’s probably better to choose a design that will be sustained by other orders and will have a prod line open with spares, main engines

So, pretty much straight forward requirements, modularity to support growth and adaptation, preserve your people, easy to train on, big production and user base. We’d all agree on that - right? The answer wouldn’t be an unproven design, not in service anywhere in the world,

Like any lazy former officer, obviously I asked Chat GPT 5 for some help. I’ll share the broad comparrison table but basically your choices are: Redback CV90 KF 41 Lynx ASCOD/Ajax Stretch design as proposed and rejected for the Aussie Land Programme.

Luckily there is a TONNE of test data out there from both our US, Australian and JEF buddies. All with the exception of one - the stretch Ajax. Little to no test data is available. That’s an issue because if you want modularity and upgrades, guess what, industry hasn’t even

Then there’s the production angle. Redback – Best “off-the-shelf” lethality/APS/sensor package with an active line (Australia) you can hitch to; very compelling for a limited, fast, high-capability buy. CV90 Mk IV – Safest through-life value (huge user base, open

The basics. Believe it or not, a big drama with armoured vehicles is doors. Yes. That’s right. Doors and garages. You need to be able to pit the things inside and keep them warm. Otherwise who knows you might end up storing a vehicle outside and delaminating all of their glass

A stretched #Ajax IFV is a bad bet: it needs a new hull/turret to fit 6–8 dismounts, reignites noise & vibration risk, and would be underpowered vs modern peers. You’d pay for a bespoke redesign with none of the benefits of a proven production line. #UKDefence

Result? A UK-only orphan fleet, thin “commonality” with Ajax, & schedule credibility shot just as IOC/FOC are in sight. The Army needs combat power now—not another reset. Proven lines bring ATGM, APS & coalition sustainment. #IFV #Army

For balance here are the drawbacks of the others. KF41 Lynx Not yet in service; turret reliant on power; APS unproven AS21 Redback Export-only, immature; politically sensitive components CV90 Mk IV Configuration/weight unclear; criticized for missing systems; still expanding

Remember team I’m just “that guy” on the outside. I’m sure it’ll be splendid.

@thepagey So Pagey, to summarise - no Golden Shot perfect answer, and all options come with discernible risks?

@stephen_howell6 No I think stretch Ajax comes with intolerable risk to the IFV line and the existing Ajax line.

@thepagey This issue has been done to death on X, It is going to be Ares or a variant of it and only Ares IFV, The army is rationalising it's fleet, so why would they bring in a completely different platform with all the spares, training and maintenance ramifications that would entail.

@thepagey As a German I’m obviously biased but let’s Go puma. Although for the UK the Lynx would probably be the better option.

@thepagey @nicholadrummond Stretch Ajax? “Lets make a bad idea worse”.

@thepagey Nice to hear from somebody whose been there and done it. But you are letting being sensible getting in the way of many trials, a good few jollies around the world and at least 5 people's path to promotion. They don't want cheap and effective, they want free jollies.