Germany's SIG Sauer GmbH has been awarded a $580 million contract by the U.S. Army to produce a modified version of its Full Size SIG Sauer P320 semi-automatic pistol as the Army's new service pistol.

The announcement on Jan. 19 meant SIG Sauer had won the United States Military Modular Handgun (MHS) System Competition, which lasted all of 10 interminable years.

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The pistol to be developed by SIG Sauer will become the Army's new XM17/M17 pistol. The Army has asked SIG to make certain modifications to the pistol.

The U.S. Department of Defense is expected to buy some 500,000 of the new SIG pistols. The Army is expected to acquire 280,000 Full Size pistols and 7,000 of the Sub-Compact version.

The Navy, Marines and Air Force are expected to order 212,000 of the SIG  handguns.

SIG Sauer defeated Glock, Inc., FN America and Beretta USA, maker of the current M9 9 mm service pistol, in the MHS competition. In 1985, the Beretta M9 beat the SIG P226 to become the Army's service pistol.

"We are both humbled and proud that the P320 was selected by the U.S. Army as its weapon of choice," said Ron Cohen, SIG Sauer CEO.

"Securing this contract is a testimony to SIG Sauer employees, their commitment to innovation, quality and manufacturing the most reliable firearms in the world."

SIG Sauer has a U.S. subsidiary, SIG Sauer of Exeter, New Hampshire.

The Army launched its XM17 MHS competition in 2005 to replace the M9 9mm pistol. While extremely reliable, the M9 gained an adverse battlefield reputation as a weapon lacking in stopping power.

One of the major goals of the MHS competition was to adopt a pistol chambered for a more potent round than the current 9 mm. The U.S. military replaced the .45 caliber 1911 pistol with the M9 in 1985 and began using the 9 mm NATO round at that time.

The civilian version of the SIG Sauer P320 comes in 9×19 mm Parabellum; .357 SIG; .40 S&W; .45 ACP and .380 ACP. Some sources, however, claim the Army selected the 9×19 mm Parabellum version.

"By maximizing full and open competition across our industry partners, we have optimized private sector advancements in handguns, ammunition and magazines, and the end result will ensure a decidedly superior weapon system for our warfighters," said the Army in a statement.

TagsSIG Sauer P320 semi-automatic pistol, U.S. Army, service pistol, SIG Sauer GmbH, United States Military Modular Handgun (MHS) System Competition, Ron Cohen, XM17/M17 pistol