Switzerland Selects SIG P320 as Its new Service Pistol Despite Better Glock G45 Results

Switzerland has completed the evaluation of candidates for its new army pistol and has announced the selection of the SIG Sauer P320.

The 9 mm Pistole CH A NG project aims to replace the old Pistole 75 (SIG P220), which has been in service for about 50 years, with a modern and long-term viable solution, hartpunkt reports.

The manufacturer, SIG Sauer, has committed to organizing production within Switzerland.

The army’s total requirement is 140,000 pistols, and the first batch of 50,000 units will be purchased under the Armeebotschaft 26. A mid–double-digit million budget has been allocated for the acquisition. In addition to the pistols themselves, the plan includes purchasing extra magazines, holsters, and training materials, including weapon mock-ups.

At the initial stage, five models were considered, and in 2024 three were selected for final evaluation: the Glock G45 Gen 5, the Heckler & Koch SFP9, and the SIG Sauer P320. All of them underwent technical tests, troop trials, and a logistics assessment. According to the results, only the Glock G45 met all mandatory criteria and was deemed suitable for military use.

However, a comprehensive political and economic assessment showed significant advantages specifically for the SIG Sauer P320. Although all systems were nearly equal in terms of utility, the 30-year operating costs turned out to be lowest for the P320. Meanwhile, the weapon met all safety requirements under the standard testing protocol.

The identified shortcomings that prevented it from receiving full suitability concerned ergonomics and the durability of certain components. The Federal Office for Defence Procurement emphasized that these issues can be resolved through design improvements, which the manufacturer has already officially promised to implement.