New in 2018: Army rolling out new handgun across the force

The handgun that will replace the M9 sidearm that soldiers have carried for more than 30 years will be rolling out to units in 2018.

The Modular Handgun System, or M17, a military version of the Sig Sauer P320 9mm handgun, was delivered to soldiers with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky in November.

Soldiers with the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade at Fort Benning, Georgia, were next on the list to receive the new handgun, according to Army officials.

New in 2018: What you need to know

Soldiers can expect 2018 to bring many key, critical changes that will impact their lives at home and in uniform. See all the online stories here, plus a preview of more to come.

By Staff Reports

Sig Sauer won the 10-year, $580 million contract in 2017 and is scheduled to produce 195,000 pistols for the Army.

The civilian version of the handgun was first released in 2014. It is a polymer striker-fired pistol with interchangeable grip modules that can be adjusted in frame size.

The pistol can be adapted to shoot 9mm, .357 SIG and .40 caliber but the Army has selected 9mm for now.

The Army is buying both a full size and compact version of the pistol to be issued depending upon mission requirements.

The pistols have standard and extended capacity magazines and all pistol variants can be configured to use suppressors.

About Todd South

Todd South has written about crime, courts, government and the military for multiple publications since 2004 and was named a 2014 Pulitzer finalist for a co-written project on witness intimidation. Todd is a Marine veteran of the Iraq War.

More In Your Army

Army will no longer rotate tank units to Korea — but the tanks are staying

The move comes after a sudden jump in overseas duty for the service's armored units after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Congress wants more troops in Europe as war in Ukraine drags on

Congress wants to see a boost in U.S. military presence through permanent basing and rotational deployment as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues.

Lost rifle is latest in feud between Texas Guard and butterfly preserve

It's not every day that a butterfly enthusiast gets an M4A1. But Monday was that day.

Multiple errors led to fuel leak in Pearl Harbor water, Navy says

Some 6,000 people, including Navy, Army and Air Force families, suffered nausea, headaches, rashes and other symptoms.

‘It’s scary as hell’ — PFAS exposure a ‘widespread’ problem for troops, families nationwide

Some of the highest concentrations of PFAS chemicals in the country have been found at and around military bases.

In Other News

Should WWII’s last Medal of Honor recipient get a state funeral?

Hershel “Woody” Williams, awarded the nation's highest combat honor in 1945, passed away Wednesday.

Russian forces leave Snake Island, keep up eastern assault

Russia said it withdrew its forces from the island as a “goodwill gesture.” Ukraine said the Russians fled following a barrage of artillery and missiles.

Army veteran held in Ukraine speaks to mom by phone

Relatives say Lois “Bunny” Drueke spoke to her son Alexander Drueke, one of two Alabama veterans captured earlier this month in Ukraine, via telephone.

Wives of fighter pilots on what ‘Top Gun’ gets right — and wrong

Four wives of fighter pilots dish the details you don’t see in the Hollywood films on this episode of The Spouse Angle.

Are commissaries providing the savings they promised to troops?

Providing savings to service members is of particular concern right now due to the inflation in food prices.

Supreme Court upholds state government work protections for reservists

The Supreme Court allowed a former state trooper to sue Texas over his claim that he was forced out of his job when he returned from Army service in Iraq.

Last surviving WW2 Medal of Honor recipient Woody Williams dies at 98

Marine veteran Hershel “Woody” Williams famously destroyed enemy positions with a flamethrower on Iwo Jima.

No plans to increase abortion services at VA after Supreme Court ruling

The VA currently does not offer the procedure or counseling to patients seeking to get an abortion.

US to boost military presence in Europe for Russia threat

Biden announced the permanent basing of a U.S. military garrison in Poland. He also said the U.S. is sending two additional F-35 fighter jet squadrons to the U.K. and more air defense and other capabilities to Germany and Italy.

Abortions are rarely performed by military clinics, data shows

Military hospitals performed fewer than 100 abortions between 2016 and 2021.