Air Force Command Pauses Use of M18 Handguns After Security Airman's Death

An Air Force command is temporarily barring the use of issued Sig Sauer sidearms amid an investigation into the death of an airman at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming over the weekend.

The active-duty Security Forces airman, assigned to the base's 90th Security Forces Squadron, "died on base while on duty" in the early morning hours Sunday, a news release from the base said. While the identity of the service member has not yet been made public, nor has the circumstances of their death, Air Force Global Strike Command, or AFGSC, issued an immediate order pausing the use of 9mm Sig Sauer M18 handguns as a result of the incident.

"Air Force Global Strike Command has paused use of the M18 Modular Handgun System, effective July 21, 2025, until further notice," Charles Hoffman, an AFGSC spokesperson, told Military.com. "This decision was made following a tragic incident at F.E. Warren AFB, WY, on July 20, 2025, which resulted in the death of a Security Forces airman."

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The Sig Sauer M18 is part of the firearm manufacturer's P320 series, which has faced legal scrutiny after reported allegations of unintentional discharges among civilians, law enforcement and within the military. Air Force Global Strike Command is now doing a full inspection of the handguns.

"Out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the safety and security of our personnel, the pause will remain in place pending the completion of comprehensive investigations by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the AFGSC Safety office," Hoffman added.

A July 21 memo issued by Gen. Thomas Bussiere, head of Air Force Global Strike Command, that leaked online, and was confirmed as authentic and accurate by AFGSC, called for the M4 carbine rifle to be used as a replacement in the wake of the investigation.

New Hampshire Public Radio obtained nine incident reports of unintended discharges of Sig Sauer M17s and M18s -- two military variants of the handgun -- according to an in-depth investigation published last year.

An August 2024 FBI report requested by the Michigan State Police, and recently made public, examined an incident in which an officer's M18 "fired uncommanded" while it was holstered. It detailed that, while the weapon in question "did not independently provide evidence of an uncommanded discharge, it does indicate that it may be possible" under certain conditions.

Sig Sauer, in a scathing news release in March responding to the ongoing lawsuits and media reports regarding the discharges, fought back against the allegations.

"The P320 CANNOT, under any circumstances, discharge without a trigger pull -- that is a fact," the news release detailed. "The allegations against the P320 are nothing more than individuals seeking to profit or avoid personal responsibility."

Sig Sauer did not respond to a Military.com email seeking comment by publication time.

"While the investigations are underway, AFGSC is collaborating with the Air Force Security Forces Center and Headquarters Air Force Security Forces to conduct a thorough review of the M18 and develop appropriate corrective measures," Hoffman said. "Furthermore, Security Forces combat arms airmen at all AFGSC bases will conduct 100% inspections of the M18 handguns to identify any immediate safety concerns."

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