The Swiss Armed Forces have selected the SIG Sauer P320 to serve as their new standard military sidearm, replacing the aging SIG P220/Pistol 75 that has been in service for more than 40 years. The procurement falls under the New Generation sidearm initiative overseen by the Swiss Defence Procurement Office, aimed at modernizing personal weapons and aligning acquisitions with national industrial goals.
Officials stated that the P320 was chosen in part due to requirements mandating Swiss industrial involvement. SIG Sauer, which maintains a presence in Schaffhausen, confirmed that production of the pistol will be established inside the country. This supports Switzerland’s long-term strategy to reinforce domestic manufacturing capacity and secure resilient supply chains for military equipment.
The pistol underwent extensive testing during a multi-stage small arms competition. The final round in 2024 included the SIG P320, Glock’s G45 Gen 5, and Heckler & Koch’s SFP9. Although the G45 met all required technical benchmarks, evaluators selected the P320 based on broader policy considerations, cost-efficiency, and its significantly lower 30-year life-cycle cost. Minor modifications requested to enhance comfort and durability were accepted and guaranteed by SIG Sauer.
Switzerland intends to purchase roughly 140,000 of the new pistols, starting with an initial batch of 50,000. The approved budget includes a mid-range double-digit million Swiss franc allocation, covering not only the firearms but also accessories such as holsters, training kits, and dedicated dummy models for instruction.
