U.S. Army Field SIG SAUER M17/M18 Pistols with 101st Airborne Division

U.S. Army Fields SIG SAUER M17/M18 Pistols
U.S. Army Fields SIG SAUER M17/M18 Pistols

Newington, NH-(Ammoland.com)- Today the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) became the first unit to field the U.S. Army’s new M17 and M18 Modular Handgun System. The 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st ABN DIV (AASLT) began fielding the new handguns today at Fort Campbell, Kentucky under the command of Col. Derek K. Thomson.

“What a great day,” said Thomson. “To witness modernization firsthand as my soldiers became the first in the Army and this storied division to fire the new pistol is an absolute honor.”

The MHS handgun is a variant of the SIG SAUER P320 pistol and is equipped with an external safety, an integrated MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail for the attachment of light and laser systems, self-illuminating night sights to maintain combat effectiveness in all lighting conditions, and is capable of accepting a sound suppressor.

The MHS handgun is a variant of the SIG SAUER P320 pistol
The MHS handgun is a variant of the SIG SAUER P320 pistol

Ron Cohen, President and CEO of SIG SAUER, Inc., said “We are both humbled and proud that the P320 was selected by the U.S. Army as its weapon of choice. Securing this contract is a testimony to SIG SAUER employees and their commitment to innovation, quality and manufacturing the most accurate and reliable firearms in the world.”

Over the next 10 years the Army will distribute the new MHS handguns to all Army units replacing the M9 pistol, which has been in service since 1986.

“That’s pretty dated technology,” said Lt. Col. Steven Power, Project Manager Soldier Weapons, individual weapons product manager. “The specific performance improvements of the MHS over the M9 include better accuracy, tighter dispersion, and better ergonomics, which when combined, result in a far more lethal pistol.”

“The world has changed since the strength and resilience of this division was forged during the maelstrom of World War II,” said Maj. Gen. Andrew P. Poppas, 101st ABN DIV (AASLT) commander. “In order to maintain our decisive edge, we must continue to outpace our potential adversaries with more lethal capabilities, from the modular handgun system we fielded today to the innovative and adaptive air assault concepts, equipment and training the 101st continues to perfect.”

SIG Sauer M17 Handgun
SIG Sauer M17 Handgun

About SIG SAUER, INC.SIG SAUER

SIG SAUER, Inc. is The Complete Systems Provider™, leading the industry in American innovation, ingenuity, and manufacturing. SIG SAUER® brings a dedication to superior quality, ultimate reliability, and unmatched performance that has made it the brand of choice among many of the world’s elite military, government and law enforcement units as well as responsible citizens. SIG SAUER offers a full array of products to meet any mission parameter, including handguns, rifles, ammunition, electro-optics, suppressors, ASP (Advanced Sport Pellet) airguns and training. The largest member of a worldwide business group of firearms manufacturers that includes SIG SAUER GmbH & Co. KG in Germany and Swiss Arms AG in Switzerland, SIG SAUER is an ISO 9001: 2008 certified company with more than 1,600 employees. For more information on SIG SAUER, any of its products, or the SIG SAUER AcademySM, please visit on to sigsauer.com.

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J.WOLF

NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU PAY FOR ANY PISTOL OR RIFLE! IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE SHOOTER!
CHEAP GUNS HAVE KILLED MORE PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE JERK PULLING THE TRIGGER!!!!
AND HOW YOU REACT IN ANY GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCE!

PANIC & YOU WILL MISS OR MAKE A BIG MISTAKE! AND THEN YOU HIT THE WRONG TARGET@!

OR WORSE YOU ARE DEAD! J WOLF X 13 aka THE WOLF!

3manfan

Why are you yelling?

j wolf

Key board had glue on it! Not yelling! Could not switch it!
THE WOLF!

Bret

IMHO, Con? Just one that I know of so far. It’s still a 9mm. Somewhat better at penetrating aluminum and alloy metals if thin enough, like that used to make civilian autos or hollow exterior house door and windshield glass than the .45acp… but not much better. Insurgants, terrorists wear helmets and protection equipment too. Time to rethink about the ammunition we design weapons around. I am certainly no ballistics mastermind. But that being said, I have done the research. When lesser kevlar vests will stop .45, 9mm, .40, 10mm, .357 & .44 magnums. But it takes the highest level… Read more »

James Higginbotham

i own all caliber of handguns, and my favorite is STILL MY 1911’S IN 45 ACP.
but then i am STILL OLD SCHOOL MARINE.

Not Mac

Is it just me? Does anyone agree that the XM long slide looks more like Sig went CZ instead of the 320? The XM17 long slide profile has more P07 than P320. Take a good look side by side… Are our guys being issued a Shadow clone ?

Whimpy

This one and the Beretta 92 will NEVER replace a good 1911 Kimber or Wilson 45 Auto. Ever!!!!! The 9mm doesn’t have enough ass. That’s why our Special Forces and Seals went back to the 45 !!!! Ya just need to learn how to handle it. Been shooting it for 60 years and won’t change since it saved my life a couple of times in southeast Asia.

Mike S

Nice screen name there, Wimpy.
I had a Kimber .45. After the thrid time of sending it back to Kimber to see if they could get it to run a complete magazine of factory 230 ball without jamming, I dumped it and have never looked back. Meanwhile, 20+ years of M9/92 variants and not one single malfunction of any sort. Yep.

Keep believeing whatever lets you sleep at night. I do.

American Patriot

It could only be the top brass Maj.Gen to call the sig 9mm “more lethal capabilities, from the modular handgun system” he sounds too political as I know a 9mm fired out of my glock 19 is just as lethal as firing a 9mm out of a sig, beretta even a pos taurus. A pistol is a last resort in typical combat and 100 yrs ago the pistols could be called more “lethal” then now.

K. Riley

So now the USA will BUY a NEW PISTOL very 29 YEARS. The M9 Lasted only 29 Years while the 1911 lasted 70 years. DUH.

Danny Koch

i purchased a 320C,9MM in June loved it so much than I just purchased a 320C in 45ACP. Anrd Im a Glock guy,guy LE instructor. These guns just fit the hand so much better than the old sigs.

Viscount

What is the difference between “better accuracy” and “tighter dispersion”? Is that like a pistol that misses a target by exactly two feet from 15 yards every shot? Not so great on accuracy, but terrificly tight dispersion?

Mike S

Heh.. nice one 🙂

And what, exactly, was so inaccurate about the M9 anyway? I’ve shot dozens of them and owned several over the years and never thought to myself “.. hmm. this thing just can’t hit where I’m aiming…”

Wild Bill

@Mike S, Often times the federal government chooses a vender, from a foreign country, as a pay back for being our ally in the middle east. That way we can call ourselves “The Allies”.

Chuck Clowdis , KY Colonel

So very well said!

Clark Kent

A ‘vender’? What nationality is that?

Wild Bill

@"MCCLOUD!", vendor is the verbiage used in Federal government contracting.

Mike S

You got that right, Bill. I like my Berettas made in Italy – just like my sports cars and pasta recipes. Shame that so many of them are actually commies of one flavor or another over there. Allies to the current politicos, indeed.

j wolf

I come from a long family history of Military Service to our country! When we are called we served proudly!
Some of us Gave their Lives! we are true to GOD FAMILY & COUNTRY FOREVER!
But i was trained to make every shot count and i still believe it always comes down to the shooter!
But we buy American Always! THE WOLF X13

John

The military didnt need to spend the money on a new pistol, all the top manufacturers make good pistols. It is preference that people pay for. As a tax payer to me it is a waste of money.

Manny

I don’t remember the last time one of my checks had the name, “Shit for Brains” stamped on it where you signed it. Next time shithead thank a veteran instead of talking about money that thankfully is not yours to spend bitch!

Clark Kent

Actually, if the government did not confiscate his money it WOULD be his to spend. Sounds like you are the sh*t for brains. Grow up.

Wild Bill

@Manny, JWX-ray13, and all you other vets out there. First, thank you for putting your lives on the alter of freedom. You are all a river to your people, and a shield to your nation.
Second, I don’t believe that the complaint was about pistol money being spent, but rather pistol money being spent foreignly or domestically. And to all Merry Cartridges and a Happy New Rifle!

Jim

Oh goodie, More of our tax dollars going to a foreign owned company for a frigging expensive handgun. Less than 1/10th of 1/100th of one percent of all the bad guys killed by individual weapons carried by our troops in the Middle East was with a handgun! Even the military will tell you it is a feel good item, not really used much except to kill mules in a WWII war movie about a famous general–and that was a revolver!

Viscount

Tom Hanks blew up a tank with a 1911 at the end os “Saving Private Ryan. Or was that a fighter plane?

Todd

Yeah…Red and Gaston whined also.

Clark Kent

Your statistic is irrelevant since not every enemy soldier in the Middle East shot by a handgun fired by US troops was killed. How many enemy soldiers were put out of action after being shot with a pistol? Not everyone shot with a handgun round dies. Nice try; no cigar.

Bret

It’s still a 9mm. Somewhat better at penetrating aluminum and alloy metals if thin enough, like that used to make civilian autos or hollow exterior house door and windshield glass than the .45acp… but not much better. Insurgants, terrorists wear helmets and protection equipment too. Time to rethink about the ammunition we design weapons around. I am certainly no ballistics mastermind. But that being said, I have done the research. When lesser kevlar vests will stop .45, 9mm, .40, 10mm, .357 & .44 magnums. But it takes the highest level of kevlar vest designed just to stop 7.62×25, speaks volumes.

Red

Better accuracy ?? I beg to differ.

Todd

Yeah…Gaston whined also!

Buck Cassidy

I first held this pistol at the NRA annual meeting in Indianapolis, in 2014. It just fit my hand perfectly. Then, after pressing the trigger, I was sold!!