Air Force Global Strike Command has temporarily paused all Sig Sauer M18 Modular Handgun Systems (MHS) operations after a young female Airman died after being shot by an alleged firearm malfunction.
The Sig Sauer M18 is based on the popular Sig Sauer P320. The fire control unit (FCU) is the serialized part, which allows for the easy swapping of pistol chassis. The modularity of the firearm was a selling point when competing against the Glock 19x to become the replacement for the Beretta M9 as the military’s standard-issue sidearm. This gun wasn’t Sig’s first foray into a modular pistol. The P250 was introduced in 2009 as a hammer-fired modular firearm. The P320, which was launched in 2014, shares many design elements with the P250, but utilizes a striker instead of a hammer.
According to the United States Air Force (USAF), a service member serving at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming removed her M18 that was secured in a Safariland holster by detaching from her belt by using Safariland’s Quick Release System (QLS). The QLS uses a fork system to secure the holster to a backing that is attached to the user’s belt. The young Airman placed the firearm, still in its holster, on a table. While on the table, the gun allegedly fired a round on its own, hitting the Airman in the chest, killing her.
The US Air Force and Army are investigating the incident. The Army is participating in the investigation because the Army manages the M18 program. Until the investigation is complete and the cause is confirmed, the Air Force will remove the pistols from service. The order only affects US personnel but is likely to expand to Air Force service members in Europe. Air Force personnel will be carrying M4s for the time being.
“Air Force Global Strike Command has paused use of the M18 Modular Handgun System, effective July 21, 2025, until further notice,” said Air Force Strike Command spokesman to AmmoLand News and other outlets. “This decision was made following a tragic incident at F.E. Warren AFB, WY, on July 20, 2025, which resulted in the death of a Security Forces Airman.”
In a social media post, Sig Sauer stated that it is cooperating with the investigation. The company said it proactively reached out to the Army and Air Force to assist with the investigation. The post expressed confidence in the military’s investigation and extended its sympathies to the service members and families affected by the tragedy.
— SIG SAUER (@sigsauerinc) July 23, 2025
Sig Sauer has faced multiple lawsuits over the P320 handgun. The company lost two cases in court last year. In the first case, a Georgia man was awarded $2.35 million in damages after he alleged his P320 fired on its own and hit him. A jury awarded a Philadelphia man $11 million in damages four months later. Twelve other lawsuits have been filed against Sig Sauer, but all those suits have been dismissed. The plaintiffs in these cases claim that the gun can fire without the trigger being pulled. Sig Sauer disputes these allegations.
In May, the company posted on X (formerly Twitter), “The P320, it ends today.” The company claimed that the P320 will not fire unless the trigger is pulled. The company blamed anti-gun groups, trial lawyers, and the mainstream media for the stories about the gun firing without human intervention. The military investigation into the incident might shed light on whether there is a problem with the gun.
AmmoLand News reached out to Sig Sauer for comment, but our request was not returned at the time of publishing.
About John Crump
Mr. Crump is an NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. John has written about firearms, interviewed people from all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons, follow him on X at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com.
