The Army has awarded Sig Sauer a contract worth as much as $580 million for its Modular Handgun System (MHS) program, according to a service statement.

Fielding of the handgun is expected to begin this year. It will replace the military’s current standard issue sidearm, the Beretta M9, which has been in service since 1985. Aerial view of the Pentagon, Arlington, VA

Sig Sauer and Glock were the two favorites coming down the stretch, Army sources told Defense Daily in December. Industry sources had said more than a dozen bidders pursued the program: Beretta’s new APX, the CZ P-09, FN Herstal’s Five-Seven Mk 2, General Dynamics [GD] Ordnance and Tactical Systems and Smith & Wesson’s M&P polymer handgun; the Glock 17 and 22; and Sig Sauer’s P320. KRISS USA, Springfield Armory and STI-Detonics Defense also may have pitched handguns (Defense Daily, Dec. 6).