Former soldier accuses defence chiefs of trying to 'gag' him over videos exposing faults in Army's troubled Ajax armoured vehicles

An ex-soldier claims defence chiefs tried to 'gag' him after he posted online videos exposing faults in the Army's troubled Ajax armoured vehicle programme.

Alfie Usher triggered a major political row after he published footage on his military social media account of around 30 soldiers reporting noise and vibration symptoms while operating Ajax vehicles during Exercise Titan Storm on Salisbury Plain.

The three videos, posted on Fill Your Boots (FYB), which acts as an internet discussion forum for the rank and file, showed loose fittings, drainage problems inside a vehicle and a rear door closing on a test dummy without an apparent safety system stopping it.

Ajax, built by General Dynamics Land Systems UK, is intended to form a central part of the Army's armoured reconnaissance capability.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) ordered 589 vehicles under a contract worth more than £5.5billion, but the programme has suffered years of delays and technical problems.

The footage intensified pressure on ministers, with MPs demanding answers in the Commons over troop safety and the future of the Ajax programme.

Conservative MP Mark Francois praised Mr Usher, saying the account had been 'instrumental in putting heat and light on this issue on behalf of service personnel'.

The footage led to the Army suspending Ajax training and exercising.

Former soldier, Alfie Usher, pictured, triggered a major political row over the Ajax armoured vehicle

The Ajax vehicles which were declared ready for deployment eight years later than planned were built by General Dynamics Land Systems UK

Ministers also ordered a review into the Ajax programme alongside Army and Defence Accident Investigation Branch inquiries.

Now a series of internal MoD emails, released in a Freedom of Information request, reveal the growing alarm in December 2025 at the posts.

In one email, an official warned: 'The social media activity regarding Ajax seems to be gathering pace rather than dying off, with Fill Your Boots as the driving force.'

The message said one video amounted to a 'security breach' and added: 'We have raised a security incident and asked DDC (Directorate of Defence Communications) to engage to get the video taken down although they seem powerless so far.'

The official then asked: 'What can be done to engage with FYB and to stop the posting from them?'

Other emails show defence communications officials were asked to contact FYB directly 'to get it taken down for security reasons'.

Last night, Mr Usher told The Mail on Sunday that the MoD was more concerned about reputational damage than resolving the issues with Ajax.

He said: 'I was given information about the problems with Ajax because those involved in the testing felt they weren't being listened to and they were very concerned.

An Ajax armoured fighting vehicle is demonstrated during British Army Expo 2025 at Redford Cavalry Barracks in Edinburgh 

The first public running display of the British Army Ajax armoured vehicle in Bovington, Dorset

'But rather than admit they had a problem, the MoD tried to gag me and blame me for impacting morale when it was all the problems with Ajax which was doing that.

'In the FOIs, the top brass talked about their concern that my FYB was having an impact on morale without accepting that it was the Ajax vehicle causing the morale problem.'

Two separate security incident reports were raised over material published online.

Senior officials also considered using existing contacts with Mr Usher to persuade him to stop publishing.

The documents also reveal concern inside the Ajax programme about the impact of the revelations.

One official referred to 'relentless FYB posts' and warned they would be 'very hard' on staff.

Another said the prospect of officials being named publicly was having 'a really negative impact on morale'.

Shadow minister for defence procurement, Ben Obese-Jecty MP said: 'The lack of transparency from Labour regarding the delivery of Ajax is preventing scrutiny and fuelling speculation on the programme's future.'

The MoD said it was untrue to suggest it had tried to gag Mr Usher. 

It said: 'Concerns relating to Ajax were taken seriously, thoroughly investigated and acted upon including pausing trials and training where necessary while issues were examined. 

'Ministers at the time publicly thanked those who raised concerns about the programme, including Fill Your Boots. Any concerns about online content were related to security and publication of vehicle information.'