Ajax Family Series Report 3: British Army ARES Armored Personnel Carrier at DVD 2024.

The third installment in this series on the British Army's Ajax family of armored reconnaissance tracked vehicles turns its attention to the ARES variant. While the Ajax 40mm variant is designed as the mainstay fighting and reconnaissance vehicle, the ARES serves a different but complementary role within the family. The ARES is an armored personnel carrier (APC), optimized for transporting soldiers on the battlefield and providing support in a reconnaissance role.
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The ARES APC Armored Personnel Carrier in the AJAX family of reconnaissance armored tracked vehicles was demonstrated in a live demonstration during the DVD 2024.  (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

The ARES Armored Personnel Carrier (APC), developed by General Dynamics UK, is part of the British Army's advanced reconnaissance fleet, designed to replace the aging Spartan CVRT. Built on the common platform shared by all vehicles in the Ajax family, the ARES benefits from the same high levels of mobility and protection. Its design aligns with the specific mission needs of reconnaissance units, offering versatility and security in both troop transport and support roles.

The ARES is powered by an MTU V8 199 TE21 diesel engine, developing 800 horsepower. This reliable and high-performance engine is coupled with a Renk 6-speed automatic transmission, allowing the vehicle to perform efficiently across various terrains. The ARES maintains mobility during fast-paced reconnaissance operations with a top speed of 70 km/h (43 mph) on roads and off-road solid capabilities. Its engine and advanced suspension system enable the vehicle to navigate rough terrains, ensuring that troops can be deployed and extracted swiftly.

Designed to carry a crew of two—a driver and a commander—the ARES also transports up to six dismounted infantry soldiers. These troops can be quickly deployed for various tasks, such as reconnaissance, patrols, or combat support. While the ARES does not carry heavy armament like the Ajax variants, it is equipped with a Kongsberg Protector Remote Weapon Station (RWS), typically armed with a 12.7mm machine gun. It can also be fitted with a 7.62mm machine gun or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher depending on mission requirements. The RWS allows the gunner to focus clearly on targets with the Detached Line of Sight (DLOS) system, which works independently of the vehicle’s movement, ensuring precision in dynamic combat environments.

The ARES also features advanced protection systems, offering enhanced ballistic and mine protection, safeguarding its occupants from threats such as IEDs and small arms fire. Its surveillance and reconnaissance systems are state-of-the-art, incorporating acoustic detectors, laser warning systems, and a local situational awareness system. The vehicle also includes a thermal imager, dual field-of-view daylight cameras, and a sophisticated digital architecture that supports secure communications, data sharing, and battlefield management systems. This enhances real-time coordination with other military assets, improving overall operational effectiveness.

In addition, the ARES is equipped with a mobile camouflage system, a fire detection system, and an NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protection system, making it adaptable to a range of mission environments. It serves a vital role in delivering and supporting specialist troops across the battlefield, enabling coordinated combined arms maneuvers with SCOUT-equipped troops. Once the infantry dismounts from the vehicle, they are fully prepared and briefed to undertake various tasks, including dismounted surveillance, observation posts, and close target reconnaissance, all within a protected and fully integrated platform.

In summary, the ARES provides essential troop mobility and support for reconnaissance units, offering advanced protection, mobility, and integrated digital systems to ensure its effectiveness on modern battlefields.