Joint Service Small Arms Program: Difference between revisions

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{{Multiple issues|

{{Lead too short|date=June 2024}}

{{More footnotes needed|date=June 2024}}

{{Missing information|the second set of tests conducted in 1981-1982, aftermath info on M9 adoption problems|date=June 2024}}

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In 1962, the Air Force adopted the [[Smith & Wesson Model 15]] revolver over the [[M1911A1]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YLs4CwAAQBAJ&q=air+force+smith+wesson+model+15&pg=PA76|title=Bunker Hill and Grissom Air Force Base|last=Kelley|first=Tom|date=2016-05-09|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=9781439656044|language=en}}</ref> By 1977 their inventory was wearing out, and the USAF requested special ammunition for the M15 to improve its effectiveness due to malfunctions it suffered.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Rogers|first=Patrick F.|year=1983|title=The Service Pistol Controversy|url=http://americanhandgunner.com/1983issues/HMJ83.pdf|journal=American Handgunner| issue=May/June |pages=56–58, 88, 91}}</ref>

A Congressional investigation revealed that the USAF had 25 different handguns in inventory.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} Congressman [[Joseph P. Addabbo|Addabbo]] from New York said, "The current proliferation of handguns and handgun ammunition in Air Force inventory is intolerable." Congress encouraged DOD to select a standard handgun and phase out all others.{{cncitation needed|date=June 2024}}

This task was assigned to the newly created Joint Service Small Arms Program (JSSAP).

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* Evaluates and endorses the annual JSSAP Science & Technology project portfolio.

* Identifies opportunities for potential joint programs across services.

* Develops and maintains a unified Joint Service Small Arms Master Plan (JSSAMP), aligning and integrating the individual strategies of each service within the DoD.<ref>https://ndia.dtic.mil/wp-content/uploads/2021/future/T-SA_JSSASP.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=July 2025}}</ref>

==The tests==

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The eight pistols that were entered for the 1979-1980 trials were:<ref name=ArmyRDA_V22>Army R, D & A. Volume 22, Number 1</ref>

*{{flagicon|ITA}}: [[Beretta]] entered their [[Beretta_92Beretta 92#92SB_92SB (92S-1)|Beretta 92S-1]] (later renamed 92SB), which would be considered the best entry of the 1979-1980 trials. In the 1984 trials, Beretta would submit 92S-1's successor, the 92SB-F (later renamed to 92F), which would be chosen and adopted as the [[M9 pistol]] in January 1985.

*{{flagicon|BEL}}: [[FN Herstal]] submitted two entries, the [[Browning Hi-Power|FN Browning M1935 High Power]] and the '''FN Browning Fast Action''', a special double-action version of the M1935 High Power.

*{{flagicon|USA}}: [[Colt's Manufacturing Company]] of the United States submitted the '''Colt SSP''' (stainless steel pistol), a [[9×19mm Parabellum]] variant of the Colt Model 1971, which was an earlier attempt to develop a new service pistol to replace the M1911, with some minor mechanical alterations made for the trials. Colt submitted 30 new SSPs out of a production run of around 50, but their pistol was not selected. One example is on display at the [[Aberdeen Proving Ground]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Firearms |first1=Historical |url=http://www.historicalfirearms.info/post/137778371814/colt-model-1971-in-1971-colt-unveiled-a-new-modern|title=- Colt Model 1971 In 1971 Colt unveiled a new modern... |work=Historical Firearms }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg/usa/colt-ssp-e.html|title=Modern Firearms - Colt SSP|date=22 October 2010}}</ref>

*{{flagicon|GER}}: [[Heckler & Koch]] submitted two pistols, the [[Heckler & Koch P9S]] and the [[Heckler & Koch VP70]]. The former carried the smallest magazine of all the pistols tested, while the VP70 boasted the highest capacity magazine.

*{{flagicon|USA}}: [[Smith & Wesson]] of the United States submitted their [[Smith & Wesson 459]]A.

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==== Results of the first tests ====

Six of the submitted firearms passed the test.{{cncitation needed|date=September 2024}} The [[Beretta 92|Beretta 92S-1]] performed the best overall and was announced as the clear winner, having exceeded the stated goals in several cases.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Gangarosa|first1=Gene|title=Heckler and Koch : Armorers of the Free World|year=2001|publisher=Stoeger Publications; 1st edition|isbn=0739431773|edition=First|ref=HK-Armorers of the Free World}}</ref><ref> Legislation and National Security Subcommittee (1986); Page 4. Interest in the 9-mm handgun started in 1978 with informal Air Force testing of 9-mm pistols.[...] DOD concluded 2 years later that handgun standardization using 9-mm ammunition was feasible. At first, DOD planned to rely on the results of Air Force testing, which concluded that Beretta [92S-1] was by far the superior weapon tested. The Army, however, opposed awarding a sole-source contract to Beretta on grounds that the Air Force testing was not scientific. Since 1980, the Army has conducted two additional extensive rounds of testing the 9-mm pistol.</ref>

[[Heckler & Koch P9|P9S]] easily won the accuracy phase of testing but fell into disfavor when its operating controls failed to adapt themselves to left-handed use. The magazine capacity (nine rounds) was one short of the desired (later required) capacity.

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===Second tests from 1981===

{{Expand section|reason=missing information, lacking citations|date=June 2024}}

==== Results of the second tests====

{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2024}}

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This cause a firestorm of protest. Supporters{{who|date=December 2016}} in the military and Congress denounced the Army tests as rigged and a fiasco. The last line in particular was interpreted as allowing the purchase of the M1911A1 models in 9mm or .45 ACP. Colt exacerbated this thought when they subsequently offer an unsolicited proposal to convert existing M1911A1 handguns to 9mm.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

The Army's response was that all the contenders had failed in areas of reliable operations in low temperature, sand and mud. No data to support this was provided. This denial was justified{{by whom|date=December 2016}} that since a new competition might be held that data might be competition sensitive. (Note:{{according to whom|date=December 2016}} Why? Having this data would simply allow the competitors to see where they needed to improve)

An unsupported rumor{{according to whom|date=December 2016}} was that the adverse dirty conditions test required 1000 rounds without failure although 800 would be acceptable. A claim was made{{by whom|date=December 2016}} that none of the firearms achieved even 600 rounds.

As a result of this there were threats of lawsuits by the makers{{examplesexample needed|date=December 2016}} who felt defamed and worse a Congressional investigation.<ref name="The Service Pistol Controversy"/>

=== Third tests from 1983-1984 ===

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This time the Army required 30 handguns and spares for each submitted handgun design. The magazine capacity requirement was changed from 10 to 13. The price was now a fixed price requirement for a procurement of 220,000 pieces. These changed requirements caused the elimination of some handguns which has participated in the first trial.<ref name=ThompsonXM9/>

Eight pistols were entered into the XM9 competition were:<ref name="National Security Subcommittee 1986 Page 15">Legislation and National Security Subcommittee (1986); Page 15.</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last= |first= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wUbTS4OeUMUC&dq=heckler+%26+koch+p7+xm9&pg=PA47 |title=Annual Historical Review |year=1983 |publisher=Historical Office, U.S. Army Armament Materiel Readiness Command |language=en}}</ref>

*{{flagicon|ITA}}: [[Beretta]] of Italy entered their [[Beretta 92SB-F]] (later renamed to 92F), which was an improvement of their previous entry, the Beretta 92S-1. This emerged as the winner of these trials as well, and would be eventually adopted as the [[Beretta M9]].

*{{flagicon|SWI}}: [[SIG Sauer]] (under the name SigArms) introduced their new pistol specifically designed for the trials, the [[SIG Sauer P226|P226]]. The P226 was the runner-up to the M9, as both were the only two to satisfactorily pass the trials. However, the P226 would ultimately not be chosen. In a later competition for a compact service pistol, SIG Sauer's P228 became the [[SIG Sauer P226#P228 .28M11.29|M11 pistol]].

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====Results of the third tests====

During the dry mud test, the S&W, H&K, and Beretta passed with nearly perfect scores but the SIG only received 79 percent. The Walther failed both the wet and dry mud tests.<ref name="American Rifleman">{{cite web|url=https://www.americanrifleman.org/Webcontent/pdf/2009-11/2009111213533-beretta92.pdf|title=25 Years of Service The Beretta M9|last1=McClellan|first1=Angus}}</ref>{{Additional citationscitation needed|date=September 2024}}

Out of the eight submitted entries, only the [[Beretta 92|Beretta 92SB-F]] and the [[SIG Sauer P226]] were found "technically acceptable finalists". [[Steyr]]'s [[Steyr GB|GB pistol]] was the first design to be rejected by Army on May 4, due to reliability issues. Subsequently, both [[Fabrique Nationale Herstal]] and [[Colt Manufacturing Company]] would voluntarily withdraw their entries, with the former on May 31 and the latter on July 18. On September 18, 1984, the submissions by [[Carl Walther GmbH|Carl Walther Waffenfabrik]], [[Heckler & Koch]] and [[Smith & Wesson]] were all terminated. The P88 was terminated for failing drop test, dispersion, corrosion resistance, and adverse conditions requirements. The P7M13 was terminated for failing reliability and corrosion resistance requirements and the 459M for failing service life and firing pin energy requirements.<ref>Legislation and name="National Security Subcommittee (1986); Page 15.<"/ref>

In both trials where the [[Beretta 92SB-F]] and [[SIG Sauer P226]] competed the SIG was either equal or superior to the Beretta in most tests.<ref name="Future Weapons">{{cite book|last1=Dockery|first1=Kevin|title=Future Weapons|date=2007-12-04|publisher=Berkley; Reprint edition|isbn=978-0425217504}}</ref> The purchase price for the Beretta M9 handgun was [[United States dollar|US$]]178.50 per unit.<ref name="Future Weapons"/>

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{{refbegin}}

* {{cite book |last= Thompson|first= Leroy |date= 2011-09-20 |title=The Beretta M9 Pistol |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=YVbDCwAAQBAJ|___location= |publisher= Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=9781849088374}}

*{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=January 1981|title= Toward a New Hand Gun!!!|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fJFZtYNBzKUC |url-status= |magazine= Army R, D & A. Volume 22, Number 1 |___location= |publisher=Development and Engineering Directorate, HQ, U.S. Army Materiel Development and Readiness Command|pagepages=1-41–4}}

*{{cite report |author= United States. Congress. House. Committee on Armed Services. Subcommittee on Investigations|date= 1981|title= Proposed Procurement of 9--MM Handgun by the Department of Defense|publisher= U.S. Government Printing Office|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xz3qfuC7Y_IC}}

* {{cite report |author= United States. Congress. House. Committee on Government Operations. Legislation and National Security Subcommittee|date= 1986|title= The Beretta Pistol: Should it be the Defense Department's Standard Handgun? : Hearing Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Government Operations, House of Representatives, Ninety-ninth Congress, Second Session, June 5, 1986|publisher= U.S. Government Printing Office|___location=University of California|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hCdww_n0NtsC |access-date=June 4, 2024}}