Canada’s Department of National Defence has released a long overdue Draft Tender for the C22 Modular Pistol which is a 9mm striker fired, semi-automatic, recoil-operated, magazine fed pistol to replace their long serving Browning Hi-Powers.
Here is the tender’s definition of modular:
According to the draft, they are seeking a full sized pistol, with three grip sized housings: small, medium and large. This requirement can be achieved by offering a single frame with small, medium and large backstraps.
They also seek different models of right and left hand Level 2 polymer holsters for the pistol.
Here’s a smattering of requirements:
DND expects a 35,000 service life, with a mean rounds between stoppages rating of 2,000 rounds for Class 1 stoppages, 2,000 rounds for Class 2 stoppages, and 5,000 rounds for Class 3 stoppages.
The C22 FF pistol must be operable and able to fire three full magazines in 60 seconds without cooling the pistol.
The C22 FF pistol must have a separately demandable replacement slide configured to mount commercially available reflex/red dot sight (e.g. Leupold DeltaPoint® Pro, Trijicon RMR® or similar) at the rear of the slide in front of the rear sights.
The pistol must be Flat Dark Earth in color and offer a 17 round magazine.
In addition to offering a threaded barrel, the vendor must also offer a suppressor that can achieve an 18 dB noise reduction.
Yes, DND also has a drop test requirement, which is the same one used by US DoD:
The C22 FF pistol in its operational state (full magazine with a primed cartridge in the chamber) must not discharge when dropped 1.5 m, onto a concrete backed, 5 cm thick plywood surface, IAW TOP 03-2-045A section 4.8.2 1.5 Meter (5 Feet) Drop or AC/225(LG/3-SG/1)D/14 section 2.10.8 Safety Drop Test 1.5 Meter or an alternative test approved by the technical authority using the following drop orientations:
Muzzle Down: Muzzle must be the closest part of the pistol to the concrete floor;
Muzzle Up: Muzzle must be the farthest part of the pistol to the concrete floor;
Slide Up (Horizontal); Top of the slide must be the farthest part of the pistol to the concrete floor;
Slide Down (Horizontal): Top of the slide must be the closest part of the pistol to the concrete floor;
Right Side (Horizontal): Right side of the pistol must be oriented as the closest part of the pistol to the concrete floor;
Left Side (Horizontal): Left side of the pistol must be oriented as the closest part of the pistol to the concrete floor.
After each drop (3.21.1.1-3.21.1.6) each pistol must fire 15 rounds of ammunition.
Overall, it sounds an awful lot like the US issue Modular Handgun System which is manufactured by SIG SAUER.
Industry insiders expect pushback on the module requirement which can only be fulfilled by a couple of vendors such as SIG and Walther. Particularly after the SIG P320 was recently withdrawn from service by Canadian Special Operations Command (CANSOF). However, this draft tender was released after the CANSOF incident came to light, indicating DND is dedicated to obtaining a modular pistol.
