Tank commander sues MoD for £500k over 'piercing' Ajax alarms

A former Household Cavalry sergeant is challenging the Ministry of Defence at the Court of Appeal, claiming he suffered lasting hearing damage and mental health issues from testing the £6.3bn Ajax armoured vehicle fleet. Jonathan Bevan, 46, alleges that repeated 'piercing' emergency alarms—described as sounding every six to seven seconds—caused acoustic shock syndrome while he operated the 40-tonne tank between 2017 and 2021 ^[1].

Bevan, who was medically discharged in June 2023, reported chronic tinnitus, high-pitched ringing in his Bowman headset, and disorientation from a fan emitting high-frequency noise. He specifically described the 'nuclear biological chemical alarm' as 'so loud and so piercing' and said it was 'very disorientating and quite horrible' during long test drives ^[2].

His claim was initially dismissed by Judge Nigel Bird in Manchester, who ruled there was no 'memorable event' triggering his condition and no compelling evidence of acoustic shock syndrome. However, his barrister, Timothy Meakin, argued the decision contradicted established medical guidelines on acoustic shock ^[1].

The MoD has admitted negligence regarding excessive noise levels within the Ajax vehicles but denies the alarms caused acoustic shock or that Bevan’s condition stemmed from headset exposure. The development of the 589-vehicle Ajax fleet has been plagued by delays and safety concerns, including vibration injuries and hearing loss among personnel, prompting ministers to pause payments to American manufacturers between December 2020 and March 2023 ^[1].

The first Ajax vehicles only entered active service late last year, years behind the original 2017 target. MPs have questioned whether the fleet will ever be 'fit for purpose', with the Public Accounts Committee warning that vehicles injuring soldiers are of little use on the battlefield ^[1]. A report has suggested the Ajax may now be deployed alongside drones to enhance battlefield effectiveness, according to [n].

The Court of Appeal, presided over by Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr and two senior judges, has reserved judgment after half a day of hearings ^[1]. The story was first reported by Daily Mail and The Independent.