Switzerland has chosen the SIG Sauer P320 as the new standard sidearm for its armed forces, replacing the long-serving SIG P220, or Pistol 75, which has been in use since the 1970s.
The selection was made under the New Generation sidearm program, managed alongside the Swiss Defence Procurement Office. Officials stated that the P320 meets national defense procurement goals, including requirements for domestic industrial participation.
SIG Sauer, headquartered in New Hampshire but with a branch in Schaffhausen, confirmed that production will be established in Switzerland, strengthening supply chain security in line with the country’s federal armament strategy.
The competition involved thorough technical tests, field trials, and evaluations of safety and logistics. A final round held in 2024 narrowed the contenders to the SIG P320, Glock G45 Gen 5, and Heckler & Koch SFP9. While the Glock met all mandatory technical specifications, the P320 was selected following a broader policy and economic assessment. This review highlighted the SIG pistol’s “significant advantages,” including the lowest life-cycle cost across its projected 30-year service life.
Although the P320 required minor adjustments to enhance comfort and durability, SIG Sauer guaranteed the necessary modifications. Switzerland plans to acquire roughly 140,000 pistols, beginning with an initial batch of 50,000. The approved budget includes a mid-range, double-digit million figure covering holsters, training aids, and dummy weapons.
