Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has declared a ‘troubled’ £5.5billion tank order 'back on track' after seeing it in action in Dorset.

The Ministry of Defence project to build 589 of the state-of-the-art vehicles has prompted severe criticism having been running for nearly 13 years without yet providing a single deployable vehicle.

Originally intended to enter service in 2017, it has been repeatedly delayed, with problems including noise and vibration issues which injured soldiers testing the vehicles.

But the programme is said to have ‘turned a corner’ with Mr Wallace viewing an Ajax tank being put through its paces during a visit to Bovington Camp last week.

Mr Wallace said: “I have been clear this was a troubled programme, it was started in March 2010, I inherited a troubled programme, I was determined I was going to put this right, I get a weekly update.

“We think the remedies are in place, we are now going through the normal trials, can it go after the hill fast enough, does it do these things? It is showing great signs and we will keep on it.

“I am confident we have turned the corner on this troubled programme.”