According to information released by the U.S. DoD on September 2, 2020, U.S. Paratroopers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division conduct weapons familiarization with the new M17 9mm service pistol, in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, September 2, 2020.
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Paratroopers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division conduct weapons familiarization with the M17 service pistol, in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, September 2, 2020. (Picture source U.S. doD)

The new M17 and compact M18 pistols comprise the Modular Handgun System, a weapons system that replaces the M9 and M11 pistols, offering improved ergonomics and lighter load which increases maneuverability on the drop-zone for our Paratroopers.

The US. Army selected Sig Sauer to make the full-size M17 and compact M18 9mm MHS (Modular Handgun System) variants in January 2017, awarding a contract worth $580 million over 10 years. In May 2017, the Army announced that the first unit that will receive the M17 would be the 101st Airborne Division by the end of the year. At the same time, the rest of the U.S. Armed Forces revealed they also intend to acquire the handgun, making it the standard sidearm for the entire U.S. military. The services plan to procure up to 421,000 weapons in total; 195,000 for the Army, 130,000 for the Air Force, 61,000 for the Navy (M18 compact version only), and 35,000 for the Marines

The M17 handgun is a variant of the SIG SAUER® P320® pistol and is equipped with an external safety, an integrated MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail for the attachment of light and laser systems, self-illuminating night sights to maintain combat effectiveness in all lighting conditions, and is capable of accepting a sound suppressor.