LONDON

Britain’s Defense Ministry has reportedly issued an emergency recall of 120,000 body armor plates used by the military due to potentially dangerous cracks, The Guardian reported Tuesday.

Microscopic cracks were discovered in aging enhanced combat body armor (ECBA), which was supposed to be replaced in 2023, the daily reported.

However, the previous government reportedly delayed the replacements to cut costs.

Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard ordered the urgent replacement of the lightweight armor in a letter sent to military chiefs last week.

The gear is still widely used by the navy and by army personnel in low-threat environments.

Ruling Labour Party officials have accused the Conservatives, who previously ruled the UK for 14 years, of leaving troops vulnerable with “defective body armor,” comparing the situation to shortages of protective equipment for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It is clearly not acceptable for any of our armed forces personnel to be concerned about the quality of such fundamental safety equipment," Pollard said in the letter, according to The Guardian.

The enhanced armor was first introduced over three decades ago. However, it was not popular with UK forces on deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan because it was said to offer "limited protection.”

It is mostly used in the navy and marines because it is safe to wear in the water, unlike heavier flak jackets. The armor is also used by guard troops and in training programs, according to The Guardian.

The Guardian reported that the use of the enhanced armor has now been “suspended in all but unavoidable circumstances” until further testing confirms the safety of each piece.