No Plan to Discontinue M18 and M17 Pistols in Army, Marines, and Navy

Military Branches Continue Using M18 Pistol Despite Safety Concerns

The U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps have confirmed that they do not plan to halt the use of the M18 pistol as a primary sidearm for their troops. This decision comes despite recent actions taken by some units within the Air Force, which have temporarily removed the weapon from service following an incident where an airman was killed after his M18 discharged.

The M18 is a military version of Sig Sauer’s P320 handgun, which has faced scrutiny in recent years due to allegations of unintended discharges. The weapon has been used across various military bases, with reports of at least six potential unintentional discharges involving the M18 or its larger counterpart, the M17.

Tragic Incident Sparks Investigation

The situation escalated when Airman Brayden Lovan, 21, was killed after his M18 discharged at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. Lovan, a member of the 90th Security Forces Squadron, was responsible for carrying a sidearm as part of his duties. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

In response to the tragedy, officials with Air Force Global Strike Command, which oversees most units at F.E. Warren, temporarily paused the use of the M18 across the command. The pause was implemented due to "immediate safety concerns." Several units under Air Combat Command have also halted the use of the M18, although not all units within the command have done so.

Air Force Adjustments and Safety Measures

During the pause, Air Force security forces are using the M4 rifle instead of the M18. Air Force Global Strike Command has over 27,000 active duty airmen, many of whom are tasked with handling weapons on installations that house nuclear assets. The command is known for its strict focus on security and safety protocols.

Sig Sauer, the manufacturer of the M18, has pledged to assist the Air Force in its investigation into the incident. The company stated that it will provide any necessary support during the inquiry.

Widespread Use of M18 and M17

The M17 and M18 pistols have been the standard sidearms for military personnel since replacing the older M9 model in the 1980s. These weapons share similar firing components, with the M17 being a full-size variant and the M18 a compact version.

The Air Force announced in 2020 that all combat arms units would receive the M18, citing benefits such as a more consistent trigger pull and adjustable grips. The Air Force owns approximately 75% of the military's inventory of roughly 165,000 M18 pistols. Exact numbers of M17s in use are not available, but the Army and Marine Corps have indicated plans to acquire several hundred thousand of these handguns.

Testing and Modifications

The Department of Defense discovered issues with the M18 during early testing. The Army found that the pistol could discharge when dropped, even with an empty primed cartridge inserted. Sig Sauer addressed this issue by implementing lightweight components in the trigger mechanism. Follow-up testing confirmed that the modifications resolved the problem.

Despite these changes, concerns about the M18 persist. Sig Sauer acknowledged that certain conditions could lead to unintentional discharges, but emphasized that the pistol includes a manual thumb safety, which is an option for the civilian version.

Legal Challenges and Law Enforcement Concerns

The civilian version of the M18, the P320, has faced legal challenges, including lawsuits and decisions by law enforcement agencies to stop using the firearm. In November 2024, a Philadelphia jury awarded an Army veteran $11 million after his holstered Sig Sauer pistol discharged while he was descending stairs.

In June, Sig Sauer filed a lawsuit in Washington to challenge a decision by the state’s Criminal Justice Training Commission to ban police recruits from carrying the P320. The commission cited six incidents involving uncommanded discharges of the M17 and M18 since 2021.

Notable Incidents

Several incidents involving the M17 and M18 have raised concerns:

• In 2023, a Japanese security guard at Camp Foster, Okinawa, was injured when his M18 discharged while resting his hand on the holster.
• At Camp Pendleton, California, an officer experienced an unintended discharge while handling the M18.
• In 2022, a service member at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was injured after his M18 discharged at his home.

Sig Sauer introduced free upgrades for the P320 in 2020, aiming to improve safety and reliability. The company claims that the modifications have significantly reduced the number of drop-related incidents in commercial and law enforcement markets.