The Marine Corps is going to buy 35,000 M18 Modular Handgun Systems under the Army contract with Sig Sauer at a cost of approximately $180 per gun. The Modular Handgun System will replace the Marine’s curremt M-9, M-9A1, M-45A1, and M-007 pistols. The MHS provides improvements in modularity and shooter ergonomics to allow for efficient manipulation and more accurate fire for shooters of different sizes.
The Marine Corpss lists the Modular Handgun System in their Family of Infantry Weapons Systems in the Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Estimates Justification Book. Other weapons systems in thee document include the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifles (IAR), Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System (CSASS), M320 Grenade Launchers, and Tow Objective Gunner Protection Kit.
The Marine Corps Systems Command’s “INDUSTRY MANUFACTURING CAPABILITY FOR THE MHS HOLSTER SLEEVE RFI” indicates that the Marines want to purchase a minimum of 2,0oo M18 MHS holsters.
The $58 million 10 year Army MHS contract, awarded Sig Sauer in January 2017, makes the M-17/M-18 9mm Modular Handgun System the new standard replacing the Beretta M-9 pistol. The striker-fired varient of Sig’s popular 320 pistols is suppressor ready and provides an accessory rail for weapon lights. According to Sig Sauer, the U.S. Marine Corps joins the Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard who have all placed orders for the Army’s Modular Handgun System.
Photo courtesy of the US Army