After a five-year search, the U.S. Army announced that it will replace the 9mm M9 Beretta pistol, used as the standard-issue sidearm for 32 years, with a variation of the Sig Sauer P320.

The change reflects the evolution of the U.S. Army as it gets smaller and more mobile, with more diverse missions.

Washington Post:

The Army officially began its search for the new pistol in 2011 and, in the last year, slowly whittled a field of 12 competitors to three companies, including Glock and Sig Sauer.

Beretta, an Italian weapons company, had offered an upgraded version of the current M9 pistol once the Army announced it was looking to upgrade, but the proposal was rejected.

The Sig was lauded as an early favorite in the final competition by firearms experts because it was the only truly “modular” pistol in the running. Bob Owens, from the weapons blog Bearing Arms, wrote in June that “only the Sig Sauer P320, with a serialized core frame and the ability to swap different grip lengths and slide-barrel combinations, seems to meet the requirements…among the named designs.”

That means that while the other pistols in the running could swap some parts and take attachments such flashlights and lasers, the Sig was the only in the mix that could, say, easily switch from a 9mm to a .45 caliber pistol with a few part changes. The ability to switch calibers has been a growing feature in U.S. military weapons programs. Those systems, however, such as the SCAR series of rifles and the Precision Sniper Rifle program, are relegated to Special Operations forces.

[FBI returns to 9mm rounds, once shunned as ineffective]

Since the M9 was first fielded in the 1980s, pistol design and ergonomics have changed. Polymer pistols, such as the Austrian-made Glock line, have become increasingly popular among military units and law enforcement agencies worldwide. Even though the M9 is considered accurate and sturdy, it has been decried by some combat troops in recent years because of its size, weight and tendency to require frequent cleaning in desert environments. While the M9 is being phased out by the Army, it is still in use in the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force. The Air Force, however, is in the midst of its own search for a new modular handgun.

Special Operations forces use a variety of pistols. Navy SEALs have used the Sig Sauer P226 for years but could soon be changing to a Glock, while Marine Special Operations Command is changing from its specially designed .45 caliber pistol to a Glock as well. Advances in ammunition design have made arguments over which caliber is better suited for combat increasingly difficult. The FBI, however, long considered the arbiter on the pistol caliber debate, recently decided to go back from the larger .40 caliber to the 9mm.

The evolution of the Army begun during the Bush administration will require weapons that are adaptable to numerous battlefield missions.  The Sig's modular design will grant flexibility to small or large units in all battlefield environments.

The P320 will be phased in over a number of years.

I would be interested in hearing from our readers what they think of this change.  Did the Army get it right?  Or were there better alternatives?  Please leave you thoughts in the comments.