UK Prepared to Cancel £6.3 Billion Ajax Program, Healey Says

The UK is prepared to cancel its £6.3 billion ($8.4 billion) Ajax program, Defence Secretary John Healey said, after the army halted its use of the armored vehicles built by General Dynamics UK Ltd after soldiers fell ill while riding in them.

Healey will make a decision on the future of the program after the government and army conclude their investigations into the safety of the vehicles. British Army chief General Roly Walker had assured ministers that the vehicle was “demonstrably safe” weeks before the incident, the government revealed this week. Healey said he retained confidence in Walker.