Personnel with the 673d Security Forces Squadron are in the process of transitioning from the M9 Beretta pistol to the M18 SIG Sauer Modular Handgun System as part of the Air Force’s Reconstitute Defender Initiative.
“Our unit is transitioning to the M18 as part of the RDI, a career-field approach to improving mission effectiveness over the next few years,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Dane Johnson, 673d SFS logistics officer in charge. “The initiative seeks to increase the lethality, and modernize the weapon systems and capabilities of security personnel.”
The new weapons system is also projected to replace the M11-A1 compact used by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the U.S. Army M15 general officer pistol used for the Military Working Dog training.
According to Master Sgt. Shaun Ferguson, a Small Arms and Light Weapons Requirements program manager with the Air Force Security Forces Center, the fixed size of the M9 was a major limitation for defenders with bigger or smaller hands. Along with all of the other improvements, the M18 completely mitigates the issue. It can also adapt to different accessory sets the M9 could not, such as flashlights, mounted laser and reflex sights.
The design of the M18 provides improved ergonomics, target acquisition, reliability, and durability to increase shooter lethality.
“The biggest benefit of the weapon is the customizable handgrips, which allow the shooter to choose a small, medium or large handgrip,” Johnson said. “This option allows each individual shooter to achieve a steadier grip. The M18 also has a smoother trigger pull than the M9. All these factors will help increase the shooter’s acquisition of target and the accuracy of a shooter.”
So far, more than 2,000 M18s have been delivered to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, the Air Force Gunsmith Shop, Air Education and Training Command Combat Arms Apprentice Course at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, two regional training centers (Guam and Fort Bliss, Texas), Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, and F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. All security forces units are expected to have full authorization of M18s by 2020. The remainder of the Air Force will then be authorized to begin training and carrying the new weapons system.