The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is urgently recalling 120,000 pieces of Enhanced Combat Body Armour (ECBA) after microscopic cracks were discovered in the ceramic plates, raising serious concerns over the safety of frontline personnel.
The issue, affecting Army, Navy, and RAF personnel, has led to an immediate suspension of the use of ECBA except in unavoidable circumstances.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Steve Yemm MP (Lab, Mansfield) pressed the government for an update on the withdrawal of the faulty body armour and asked when all service personnel can expect to have reliable protective equipment.
“Our troops must be able to trust the body armour that they wear to keep them safe,” Yemm stated.
Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard confirmed that the MoD is taking rapid action to address the issue, with new body armour being flown out to frontline units worldwide and an urgent programme of testing underway.
“I fully agree with my hon. Friend and, on something as fundamental as body armour, we back our troops,” Pollard said.
“I ordered immediate action to replace ECBA on the frontline, flying new body armour to units worldwide. Rapid testing of plates is under way. Our people should know that their safety matters to the Government, and we will act to keep them safe.”
The defects in the ceramic plates of the ECBA were identified during routine testing, prompting the MoD to recall and suspend use of all affected armour. The cracks compromise the body armour’s ability to withstand ballistic threats, creating a critical risk to personnel in combat zones.
The issue has led to questions about quality control and procurement oversight, with the government under pressure to ensure long-term reliability and safety standards for military equipment.
The MoD has not provided a specific timeline for when all faulty ECBA will be replaced, but the rapid rollout of new protective gear and accelerated testing indicate an urgent response to minimise risks to service personnel.
“Our troops must be able to trust the body armour that they wear to keep them safe”. Many of our politicians seem to struggle with the concept of ‘risk’. If someone is shooting at you, ceramic armour is better than nothing, but you are by no stretch of the imagination ‘safe’.
ECBA should have been replaced in 2023 but that was pushed back to 2027.
Standard U.K. delays, no doubt significant costs incurred in rushing replacements by purchasing what is available now.
Surely testing should already have taken place ?
It’s hard to argue for additional funds for the army when so many of its programs face significant issues.
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ECBA is not issued to front line troops anyway. Virtus has long been standard with ECBA filling roles for rear echelon troops in the UK.
AT, surely it is precisely because the army has problems with its programmes that it needs more money. Very slow Boxer roll-out – more money might speed it up. Cancellation of Warrior upgrade programme – fund work on an alternative? Few SkySabre systems in service – more money will allow more systems to be procured.
It’s risk reduction, some risks are unavoidable but issuing soldiers with faulty equipment is unacceptable and easily rectifiable.
This isn’t the same thing but I saw a body armour cover and on the tag it said made in China I’m hoping we don’t buy the actual plates from China as well , I know China is the largest manufacturer of body armour plates In the world but there quality control is a joke and I know China makes a lot of plates for company’s in the west that repackage them with there company logos on I don’t understand why things like uniforms and body armour covers need to be made abroad why not make them in the prisons give the military cheap labour and the prisoners a skill and or work ethic
UK plates usually come from NP Aerospace in the UK. They’re eceptionally good.
ECBA dates back years, rear area only, and should have been replaced in 23, but it got pushed back.
Tim, this is very old kit, overdue replacement. Hardly surprising that it is starting to show faults. Does not mean it was originally badly designed or manufactured.
“60000 sandbags and 120000 bungees have been sourced to supply our front line troops with modern, lightweight, battle winning body armour kits, from UK suppliers ensuring 11 jobs are maintained over the next 6 months at the manufacturing base in Merthyr, all within budget and the right timeframe” “rear echelon units are being supplied with similar protective items, fitted for but not with sand (or bungees)”!