Army rejects Beretta’s pitch for upgraded M9

Posted 2015-02-12 15:13 by Grunt Report with 0 comments

The Army has turned down Beretta’s pitch to upgrade the M9 — a move that could have derailed the service’s search for a new pistol.

Beretta proposed to fill out current M9 orders with the M9A3, which offers new earth-tone colors, an accessory rail, beveled sand-resistant magazine, threaded barrel for suppressors, and adjustable handle for different hand sizes.

But the Army, in a recent decision, formally rejected Beretta’s engineering change proposal, said Gabriele de Plano, the gun maker’s vice president of military marketing and sales.

Army officials, de Plano said, indicated Beretta’s pitch was beyond the scope of the ECP process, which enables engineering changes to existing contracts.

On Jan. 30, the day after receiving the denial, Beretta sent a letter back to the Army, formally asking it to reconsider. The Army has yet to respond.

“Needless to say, we were obviously disappointed,” said De Plano. “There should be room for consideration (on appeal).”

The Army did not immediately respond to Army TImes’ questions about the decision.

De Plano declined to share the rejection, the letter of appeal or the general arguments the company made, citing the pending nature of the appeal.

“Before hearing their response, I think it wouldn’t be appropriate,” de Plano said, adding that he’d make his company’s points public once a decision was finalized.

The company had touted the M9A3 as a cheaper option than the M9 because it uses commercially available parts. Long-term, it would also be a way to give soldiers an improved, modern pistol without having to search for a whole new gun, citing savings in training and interchangeable parts. The Army, however, has said it’s sticking with its decision to replace the M9 with the pending open competitive bidding process, despite a delay in the release of the solicitation.

The Army already bought roughly 20,000 pistols through the current contract which allows for up to 100,000 total. De Plano said Beretta, the army’s handgun supplier since 1985, hoped that the Army would at least fill the rest of that order with the M9A3.

The Army, meanwhile, remains committed to finding a new MHS, which will include an overhaul of gun, ammo, accessories and holster.

The Army hoped to have a formal solicitation for the new system out early this year, but pushed back the release date. The Army said it taken in much more feedback than expected, and that has required the additional time.

The competition will be open-caliber. Some have called for a heavier round than the current 9 mm, such as a .40- or even .45-caliber bullet with an eye toward more power. The FBI switched to .40 caliber in 1986, but according to a new RFP released by the agency this summer it will switch back to 9mm. The NATO standard for handguns is 9mm.