101st Airborne Gets First Shipment of M17, M18 Handguns

By Tom Knighton

The days of the M9 are, effectively, over. At least with the 101st Airborne Division. The “Screaming Eagles” took possession of their first shipment of Sig Sauer M17 and M18 pistols, thus ending the Beretta Era.

Soldiers of the Fort Campbell-based 101st Airborne Division are now being issued the winner of the Modular Handgun System contract, the M17 and M18 pistols made by Sig Sauer.

The modified Sig Sauer P320 9mm is being fielded at the Kentucky base first in full-sized and compact variants, then will be pushed out to all units over the next 10 years, replacing the aging M9 Beretta.

“The world has changed since the strength and resilience of this division was forged during the maelstrom of World War II,” said Maj. Gen. Andrew P. Poppas, commander of the 101st, in a statement. “In order to maintain our decisive edge, we must continue to outpace our potential adversaries with more lethal capabilities, from the modular handgun system we fielded today to the innovative and adaptive air assault concepts, equipment and training the 101st continues to perfect.”

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Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley went on record in September vouching for the MHS and downplayed controversy over its …Read the Rest

Source:: Bearing Arms