THE British Army's new AJAX vehicle will be publicly unveiled for the first time at Dorset's Tank Museum this weekend.

The armoured fighting vehicle will form part of a commemorative event at the Bovington-based attraction on Saturday marking the century since the first tanks went into battle during the First World War.

Alongside this example of state-of-the-art military vehicle technology, 'Tank 100' will feature tanks throughout the ages, as well as a First World War battle re-enactment, tracked vehicle rides and a ceremonial commemoration by the Royal Tank Regiment.

David Willey, curator of the museum, said: "A century after the first tanks rolled into battle people will have the opportunity to see the British army’s latest armoured fighting vehicle.

"AJAX is the latest page in this hundred-year-old story and there is much excitement about it.

"On top of that we have a whole day of events and attractions and we will of course be commemorating those first tank crews who engaged the enemy in World War One."

The appearance of the AJAX is expected to attract large numbers of military vehicle enthusiasts.

The first of nearly 600 vehicles - made by General Dynamics Land Systems-UK - it will be delivered to the British Army next year. The first squadron will be equipped by mid-2019 with a brigade ready to deploy from the end of 2020.

The AJAX carries up to four crew and has a 40mm cased telescopic cannon, modular armour, electronic architecture, remote weapons system as well as numerous other capabilities.

Tank 100 will also see a British Army display and listen to a performance by the Bovington Military Wives Choir, and the grand finale will see hundreds of thousands of poppies dropped from the skies.

The event starts at 10am and runs through to 5pm. Tickets available at a 10 per cent discount from tankmuseum.org.