The US Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) is temporarily suspending use of the Sig Sauer M18 handgun after a fatality involving the weapon at Francie E. Warren AFB in Wyoming.
The pause was ordered amid an investigation of an accident that killed an unnamed active-duty person of the 90th Security Forces Squadron, 90th Missile Wing. A security force unit is responsible for military law enforcement and plays a critical role in base security.
Charles Hoffman, spokesperson for the AFGSC, verified the decision, adding that the force “will conduct 100 percent inspections of the M18 handguns to identify any immediate safety concerns.”
For the time being, airmen will be required to carry rifles as part of their standard sidearm.
“Out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the safety and security of our personnel, the pause will remain in place pending the completion of comprehensive investigations by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the AFGSC Safety office,” Hoffman said in an interview with Business Insider.
“While the investigations are underway, AFGSC is collaborating with the Air Force Security Forces Center and Headquarters Air Force Security Forces to conduct a thorough review of the M18 and develop appropriate corrective measures.”
The US Air Force has not yet released details about the incident or whether the airman’s death was caused by a negligent discharge of the firearm.
M18 manufacturer Sig Sauer has not issued a statement regarding the suspension.
The M18 Handgun and Malfunctions
The M18 9-millimeter compact handgun is modeled after Sig Sauer’s P320 modular system. It has a barrel length of 99 millimeters (3.9 inches) and has a magazine capacity of 17 to 21 rounds.
The handgun features striker-fired, semi-automatic action with a short, tactile reset, along with a manual thumb safety, ambidextrous controls, and a loaded-chamber indicator.
The US Air Force’s recent operational pause of M18 pistols comes amid growing concerns over the safety of Sig Sauer’s P320-series handguns, which have faced numerous complaints and lawsuits over alleged unintentional discharges.
In 2024, Michigan State Police reported that an officer’s department-issued M18 fired while still in its holster, according to The War Zone. An FBI update confirmed the pistol discharged without being touched.
In July 2025, a lawsuit against Sig Sauer claimed a man died last year when his P320 fired on its own.
A 2023 investigation by The Washington Post and The Trace documented at least 100 similar incidents, with 80 people saying they were injured by an uncommanded discharge.
Some law enforcement and government agencies have pushed to ban the weapon. However, legal action may become more difficult, as Sig Sauer has secured increased legal protections from lawmakers in its home state of New Hampshire, according to New Hampshire Public Radio.
