Global InformationXM17 Modular Handgun System competition information
The XM17 Modular Handgun System (MHS) competition was a United States Army and United States Air Force competition for a new service pistol. The Modular Handgun System was solicited by a Request for Proposals in September 2015[1] and is anticipated to be the next U.S. military standard side arm replacing the Beretta M9 and the SIG Sauer M11. The U.S. Marine Corps also participated in the program to have input on source selection, but likely will not order the resulting weapon until their current pistols' life-cycles end in the mid-2020s.[2]
The competition was first announced in 2011, but multiple delays pushed the solicitation deadline to February 2016. SIG Sauer's entry was declared the winner on January 19, 2017, with plans to begin fielding before the end of that year.[3][4]
The XM17 and XM18 versions of the SIG Sauer P320 were chosen for the full size and compact pistol versions. After acceptance into service, the handguns got the designations M17 and M18, respectively. They are configurable to receive suppressors and even though the 9mm was chosen,[5] they can be adapted to fire other calibers such as .357 SIG and .40 S&W. All weapons are planned to be delivered in a period of 10 years.[6]
- ^ White, Andrew (31 May 2016). "US Army moves ahead with handgun replacement programme". IHS Jane's 360. Tampa, Florida. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- ^ Sanborn, James K. (17 September 2015). "Marines unveil plan to modernize their small arms arsenal". Marine Times. Quantico, Virginia. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- ^ Cox, Matthew; Seck, Hodge (19 January 2017). "Army Picks Sig Sauer's P320 Handgun to Replace M9 Service Pistol". Military.com. Las Vegas. Archived from the original on 20 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- ^ Myers, Meghann (19 January 2017). "Army: Your new handgun will be a Sig Sauer". Army Times. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- ^ Wasserbly, Daniel; Gibson, Neil (30 January 2017). "US Army details new modular handgun based on Sig Sauer P320". IHS Jane's 360. Washington, DC and London. Archived from the original on 5 December 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- ^ Myers, Meghann; Tann, Michelle (20 January 2017). "11 things you need to know about the Army's new handgun". Army Times. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.