Pentagon declares M18/M17 handguns safe after airman's death review
The Pentagon declared the M18 and M17 handguns, military versions of the SIG Sauer P320, safe and reliable after a review prompted by a 2025 airman death from an alleged uncommanded discharge. Army officials traced all investigated incidents to the trigger being pulled, blaming online misinformation. The civilian P320 faces over 100 lawsuits linked to injuries and deaths, but military versions include a manual safety. Over 400,000 pistols are in service across U.S. armed forces.
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Pentagon declares M18 handgun safe and reliable after review
The Pentagon has officially declared the M18 and M17 handguns, military versions of the SIG Sauer P320, as 'safe and reliable' following a review prompted by the death of an airman in 2025 due to an alleged 'uncommanded discharge.' The Army's review concluded that all investigated incidents of accidental discharge were caused by the trigger being pulled, not mechanical failure. Officials blamed 'public speculation and online misinformation' for safety concerns. Three airmen involved in the fatal shooting were charged with lying to investigators, claiming the gun fired accidentally when in fact the shooter had pointed it at the victim as a joke. The civilian P320 has been linked to dozens of injuries and deaths, with over 100 lawsuits filed, though the military versions include a manual safety absent from the civilian model. Over 400,000 M17/M18 pistols are currently in service across all U.S. military branches.
Pentagon declares M18 handgun safe and reliable after review
The Pentagon has declared the M18 and M17 handguns, military versions of the SIG Sauer P320, as 'safe and reliable' following a review prompted by the death of an airman in 2025 due to an alleged uncommanded discharge. Army officials stated that all investigated incidents of accidental discharge were traced to the trigger being pulled, blaming safety concerns on 'public speculation and online misinformation.' The review, led by the Army's Project Manager Soldier Lethality, found that firearms mishaps account for less than 0.006% of all issued MHS pistols. However, the civilian P320 has been linked to dozens of injuries and deaths, with over 100 lawsuits alleging design flaws. Unlike the civilian version, the M18 and M17 are equipped with a manual safety. Three airmen involved in the deadly shooting were charged with lying to investigators, claiming the gun 'went off' when the shooter pointed it at the victim in a joking manner. Over 400,000 M17/M18 pistols are currently in service across the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy.
Pentagon dubs M18 handgun ‘safe and reliable’ after review
The Pentagon has declared the M17 and M18 handguns, military versions of the SIG Sauer P320, as 'safe and reliable' following a review prompted by the death of an airman in 2025 due to an alleged 'uncommanded discharge.' The Army's review concluded that all investigated incidents of alleged uncommanded discharges were traced back to the trigger being pulled, and that firearms mishaps account for less than 0.006% of all MHS pistols issued. Officials blamed 'public speculation and online misinformation' for safety concerns. Three airmen involved in the deadly shooting were charged with lying to investigators, claiming the gun 'went off' when the shooter pointed it at the victim in a 'joking manner.' The civilian version of the handgun, the P320, has been linked to dozens of injuries and deaths and is the subject of over 100 legal challenges. Unlike the civilian P320, the M18 and M17 are equipped with a manual safety. Over 400,000 M17 and M18 pistols are currently in service across the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy.
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Pentagon declares M18 handgun safe and reliable after review
The Pentagon has declared the M18 and M17 handguns, military variants of the SIG Sauer P320, as 'safe and reliable' following a review prompted by the death of an airman in 2025 due to an alleged uncommanded discharge. Army officials stated that all investigated incidents of accidental discharge were traced to the trigger being pulled, not mechanical failure, and blamed 'public speculation and online misinformation' for safety concerns. The review was initiated after an airman was shot and killed; three airmen were later charged with lying to investigators, claiming the gun fired unintentionally when it was actually pointed in a joking manner. Despite the military's defense, the civilian P320 has been linked to dozens of injuries and over 100 lawsuits. The M18 and M17, which include a manual safety absent in the civilian model, are standard-issue sidearms across all U.S. military branches, with over 400,000 in service.
Pentagon declares M18 handgun safe and reliable after review
The Pentagon has officially declared the M18 and M17 handguns, military versions of the SIG Sauer P320, as 'safe and reliable' following a review prompted by the death of an airman in 2025 due to an alleged 'uncommanded discharge.' The Army's review concluded that all investigated incidents of accidental discharge were traced back to the trigger being pulled, not mechanical failure. Officials attribute safety concerns to 'public speculation and online misinformation.' The civilian P320 has been linked to dozens of injuries and over 100 lawsuits, but the military versions include a manual safety. Over 400,000 M17/M18 pistols are currently in service across the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy.
Pentagon declares M18 handgun safe and reliable after review following airman's death
The Pentagon has declared the M18 and M17 handguns, military versions of the SIG Sauer P320, as 'safe and reliable' following a review prompted by the death of an airman in 2025 due to an alleged 'uncommanded discharge.' Army officials stated that all investigated incidents of accidental discharge were traced to the trigger being pulled, blaming 'public speculation and online misinformation' for safety concerns. The review, led by the Army's Project Manager Soldier Lethality, found that firearms mishaps account for less than 0.006% of all issued MHS pistols. However, the civilian P320 has been linked to dozens of injuries and deaths, with over 100 lawsuits filed since 2014. Unlike the civilian version, the M18 and M17 are equipped with a manual safety. Over 400,000 of these pistols are currently in service across the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy.
Pentagon declares M18 handgun safe and reliable after review
The Pentagon has declared the M18 and M17 handguns 'safe and reliable' following a review of the Modular Handgun System, initiated after an airman was killed in 2025 due to an alleged 'uncommanded discharge.' Army officials stated that all investigated incidents of alleged uncommanded discharges were traced back to the trigger being pulled, and that safety concerns stem from 'public speculation and online misinformation.' The review found that firearms mishaps account for less than 0.006% of all issued MHS pistols. However, the civilian version, the SIG Sauer P320, has been linked to dozens of injuries and deaths, with over 100 legal challenges. Unlike the civilian model, the M18 and M17 are equipped with a manual safety. Over 400,000 of these pistols are currently in service across the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy.