“These milestones are a testament to SIG’s ability to adapt and succeed amidst the extraordinary circumstances we have faced throughout this pandemic,” said Ron Cohen, president and CEO of SIG Sauer.
“Our supply chain was challenged, and the strength of our manufacturing systems has proven that we will, without hesitation, continue to outpace the stringent demands of the delivery schedule of the MHS program. Throughout this period, our factory operations and our employees have been faced with unimaginable adversity. Despite the unpredictability, we continue to consistently deliver M17 and M18 pistols that surpass the requirements for accuracy, and exceed expectations for both quality and reliability, to ensure our nation’s soldiers are prepared for the rigors of the battlefield.”
SIG Sauer released a video commemorating the completion of number 200,000 last week. It’s available here, on the company’s YouTube channel.
The Modular Handgun System includes the M17 full-size and M18 compact 9 mm, striker-fired pistols. The MHS system is based on the commercially available P320, featuring coyote-tan PVD coated stainless steel slides with black controls, utilizes both 17- and 21-round magazines, and are equipped with SIGLITE front night sights, removable night sight rear plates, and manual safeties.
The company delivered the 100,000th MHS to the military in October of 2019, months before COVID-19 reached U.S. shores and affected operations at SIG Sauer’s eight locations and more than 2,300 employees. That month alone, according to Cohen, “…SIG Sauer exceeded our manufacturing requirements by 30 percent and delivered a record-setting 12,100 handguns to the U.S. Military to achieve this historic milestone for SIG Sauer and the MHS program.”