The entire Air Force is doing a service-wide inspection of the M18 handgun after a Security Forces airman suddenly died last month, adding more scrutiny to Sig Sauer's controversial product.
Airman Brayden Lovan, 21, was killed by a firearm discharge on July 20 at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. Following the incident, Air Force Global Strike Command announced an immediate pause and subsequent investigation of the use of 9mm Sig Sauer M18 handguns. Now, an additional inspection across the entire service has been ordered as well.
"The Air Force directed a service-wide supplemental inspection of the M18 out of caution to validate the serviceability of weapons and reinforce confidence in their use," an Air Force spokesperson told Military.com on Friday. "In addition, some units are conducting refresher training for their airmen."
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Lovan's death and the expanded inspections into the sidearm comes as Sig Sauer faces yearslong allegations and lawsuits that its P320 series handgun, as well as the M17 and M18 military versions of the weapon, can discharge without pulling the trigger.
Air Force Global Strike Command's pause and inspections into the weapon, as well as Lovan's death, led some commanders of Air Combat Command units to restrict the use of the M18s until they complete "refresher training," ACC said in a statement.
"Upon completion of the training, personnel are authorized to resume use of the weapon," the Air Combat Command statement said. "The duration of these localized pauses is determined by the completion of refresher training and is not linked to the broader investigation. Training is anticipated to be fully completed within the next two weeks."
Sig Sauer announced in a news release Tuesday that the sidearm is still being used by all branches of the military.
"We proactively offered assistance to the U.S. military as they investigate the incident," Sig Sauer said in the news release. "Contrary to several online reports, (P320 based) M17 and M18 pistols remain on active duty with all branches of the U.S. military, including the U.S. Air Force, defending freedom around the world."
The gun manufacturer added that "we have absolute confidence in the U.S. military's ability to conduct a thorough investigation and report their findings."
An email sent to Sig Sauer seeking comment on the service-wide inspection was not immediately returned Friday.
Instances of alleged unintended discharges have been reported by military, law enforcement and civilians.
In June, Sig Sauer reportedly filed a lawsuit in court asking the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission to reverse a ban stopping police recruits from carrying the sidearm over concerns of unintended discharges, according to local TV stations.
An August 2024 FBI report requested by the Michigan State Police, which was widely publicized, detailed an incident in which an officer's M18 "fired uncommanded" while it was holstered. It reported 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.
A New Hampshire Public Radio investigation last year obtained nine reports of unintended discharges of Sig Sauer M17s and M18s within the military.
Sig Sauer, in its news release, defended the safety of its P320 series handguns.
"The P320 pistol is one of the safest, most advanced pistols in the world -- meeting and exceeding all industry safety standards. Its design has been thoroughly tested and validated by the U.S. military and law enforcement agencies at the federal, state and local levels," the gunmaker said.
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