In what might be a new record, two different countries have awarded the same company a contract for their new service issue sidearm within a week of one another. That company is SIG SAUER and those countries are Canada and Australia.
The Canadian Department of National Defence has awarded a contract for the 9mm NATO C22 full frame modular pistol valued at $3.2 million (USD) and to M.D. Charlton Co. Ltd. of Victoria, B.C.
This contract is for an initial 7,000 SIG P320s and holsters to replace the aging Browning Hi-Powers currently in service. According to DND, additional options for up to 9,500 pistols will be available under the contract to cover the remaining requirements for the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Canadian Navy and Military Police. Pistol delivery is anticipated to begin in mid-2023.
“The Government of Canada is committed to providing the Canadian Armed Forces with the equipment they need when they need it. Replacing the Browning 9mm with the C22 full frame modular pistol (Sig Sauer P320) will help ensure the continued operational readiness and effectiveness of all our members. We look forward to the delivery of these new pistols and holster systems in the coming year.”
-The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence
This brings a conclusion to a very long process to identify a new pistol for the Canadian Armed Forces which goes back over a decade. More recently, after identifying a requirement for a modular pistol, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal upheld a dispute filed by Rampart International on behalf of Glock which slowed the process. Apparently, any issues have been overcome, clearing the way for the competition to proceed.
“As a result of an open, fair and competitive procurement process, we are pleased to award this contract to M.D. Charlton Co. Ltd., a Canadian distributor of tactical equipment. This contract will provide our troops with modern, reliable pistols and holsters to carry out their work, while supporting economic opportunities for the Canadian defence industry.”
-The Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada
Canada joins the Australia, Denmark and the US in adopting the SIG SAUER P320 as their standard issue sidearm.
These pistols will be put to excellent use should Canada ever deploy its military, or peace keepers.. ever again?
You realize canada has service members currently deployed on a variety of ops right? The level of ignorance is ridiculous in this post
I think Uganda has more troops deployed….
What does military or peacekeepers mean? What is a peacekeeper?
If it’s a Sig, it’s reliable.
Best choice they could make. Well done.
Canadians are still deployed to Iraq, Golan Heights, and Latvia. Cansofcom has world-wide deployments.
All these countries adopting sig really looks more like a simplified logistical network.
With Canada & Australia adopting Sig & retiring their P-35 Hi Powers, will the surplus pistols make it to the US civilian market for sale?
Both those countries are massively anti-gun, odds are they will be destroyed instead
The Canadian government announced a few years back that any retired service weapons will continue to be destroyed, regardless if they were legal on the civilian market.
Is the M-17 considered a P320?
Yes, it is a P320 variant.