A STEEL superstructure that will house a state-of-the-art training centre for the next generation of British Army vehicles is being constructed at Warminster Garrison.

The 226-tonne steel superstructure is part of the Army’s Armoured Cavalry Programme, commonly known as Ajax, which will deliver a family of tracked, all-terrain, digitally-enabled vehicles with a range of weapons and sensors.

The £17 million infrastructure project at Warminster Garrison will provide a synthetic training facility to support Ajax Regiments based within Salisbury Plain.

The project is being delivered by Aspire Defence on behalf the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).

Following the start of construction in October last year, the internal fit-out of the building is now underway in preparation for installation of the Ajax simulation capability next year.

The building is on track to complete in autumn 2025 and will support a suite of state-of-the-art driver, gunnery and crew trainers, providing ‘real-world’ training to military personnel who will be in operation of Ajax vehicles, with the Royal Dragoon Guards as custodians of the facility.

Brigadier Pete Quaite OBE, head of infra plans, said: “The Warminster Garrison Ajax facility is progressing at an impressive pace and will deliver a critical capability to the Army.

“This project demonstrates the significant investment underway across our estate to modernise our training infrastructure and deliver benefits for our people.”

Officials during a recent visit to the construction site at Warminster Garrison. Picture: Crown Copyright 2024

Colonel Jamie Hayward, Armoured Cavalry programme director, said: “This new infrastructure is a vital component of the Ajax Programme. It allows the appropriate technical solution to train our Service Personnel and enables a reduction in running costs, platform wear and dependence on live training areas.”

Warren Webster, DIO MPP (Major Programmes and Projects) director Army, said the facility was “impressive”.

“It is excellent to see the progress that has already been made on this impressive facility,” he added.

“Continued collaboration between our project team and Aspire Defence will ensure that construction remains on track, to meet the infrastructure requirements of the Army’s Armoured Cavalry Programme.”

As well as the Warminster Garrison project, Ajax infrastructure has already been put in place at Tidworth Garrison and Bulford Camp on Salisbury Plain Training Area, and at Bovington in Dorset, where the Ajax simulation capability is now being installed.

Allan Thomson, chief executive of Aspire Defence Ltd, said: “We are proud to be delivering this project for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation to support the British Army, which showcases Aspire Defence’s ability to successfully deliver quality infrastructure on behalf of the Ministry of Defence and the Army.

“This first-rate facility supports the contemporary vision of training that’s in keeping with the modern Army and its readiness for today’s challenges.”