BREAKING- US Army Awards Modular Handgun Contract to Sig Sauer

The US Army announced its award of the XM17 Modular Handgun System contract worth up to $80 million today to Sig Sauer. The winning handgun system is based on Sig Sauer's P320 modular, striker-fired pistol.

According to the The U.S. Army Contracting Command, on behalf of Project Manager Soldier Weapons, the government “awarded an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with Firm Fixed Price (FFP) delivery orders to Sig Sauer Incorporated. This contract is for the production and delivery of the XM 17 Modular Handgun System (MHS) which includes the handgun, accessories and ammunition.”

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

Multiple sources involved in the acquisition program have told RECOIL the M17 is chambered in 9mm NATO.

Sig Sauer Employees gather with champagne flutes in their trade show booth at SHOT Show to share and toast the announcement that the company has been awarded the contract to supply the US Army's new XM17 Modular Handgun System.

The award of the XM17 contract ends the 25-year service life of the M9 pistol, which is based on the Beretta 92FS. The contract has the Army buying as many as 280,000 pistols, plus approximately 7,000 sub-compact models. The contract also covers the purchase of another 212,000 pistols by other military services.

“I am tremendously proud of the Modular Handgun System team,” said Army acquisition executive Steffanie Easter in an announcement. “By maximizing full and open competition across our industry partners, we have optimized private sector advancements in handguns, ammunition and magazines and the end result will ensure a decidedly superior weapon system for our warfighters.”

The competition was rumored to have come down to Sig Sauer and Glock Inc.

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