The government is ready to pull the plug on the £5 billion Ajax armoured vehicle programme, Defence Secretary John Healey has declared , as serious concerns mount over the safety of soldiers operating the troubled vehicles, reports The Times.

Healey's stark warning comes after reports of soldiers suffering severe hearing loss, vomiting, and uncontrollable shaking while testing the Ajax vehicles in recent training exercises. The Defence Secretary vowed to "deal with the consequences" of any decision made regarding the programme's future.

"I have confidence in Roly and I am prepared to take whatever decisions are required," he said. "We have a review that I have asked Luke Pollard to lead."

"We have the results from an army inquiry due and we have also got a safety investigation curre

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