Seeing as it seems to be a point of confusion (which is understandable, all these vehicles are extremely new and have only been shown in public a handful of times), Ajax IFV is not Blackjax, nor is it Ares. They are all distinct vehicles.
Ajax IFV is a newly revealed IFV variant of the Ajax family, utilising an unmanned turret, a full size troop compartment with 8 dismounts (unlike the measly 3 dismounts that Ares can carry), Iron Fist APS, and Javelin FnF ATGMs.
Blackjax is a standard Ajax reconnaissance variant (so a manned turret, no troop compartment, no ATGMs) which is being used as a testbed/demonstrator vehicle for new technology integration, like new sensors as well as also trialing Iron Fist.
So how exactly does this compare to other top-line British/Commonwealth options like the Boxer ARTEC and LM40MT, Rooikat LCT-30/ZT3 and ZT3/35mm, AS21 Redback and LAV 6.0 Mk2?
The base Ajax is probably due for a BR drop to 10.0 and I would consider all of the ones previously listed to be better light tanks than said Ajax, but I’m having a bit of trouble figuring out where this one falls into the mix.
Ajax IFV would essentially be the best of them. It’s the only one that combines the best firepower (CTA 40), fire and forget missiles (Javelins also have a chance to be implemented better than Spikes but that’s up to Gaijin), hard kills APS, and an uncrewed turret for extra survivability.
The only downside of Ajax IFV is the single missile launcher, as opposed to the dual missile launchers that most other IFVs get, but honestly that’s a non-issue imo, as long as the reload is decently fast and enough missiles are stowed in the hull. And that’s something that Gaijin generally just makes up with these vehicles anyway.
+1 having a unmanned turret would be a lot better, if it has the same or better hull protection as the AJAX we already have in war thunder, the tank would be a lot more resistant against BMPT’s
