Joint Combat Pistol
Encyclopedia
The Joint Combat Pistol was the name for a former US program for a new military sidearm to replace the M9 Pistol
, extant from late 2005 to early 2006. The program was started in 2005 and run by USSOCOM. It is the result of a merger of two earlier programs, the Army's Future Handgun System (FHS) and the Special Operations Forces Combat Pistol. Current requirements for the JCP include being chambered for caliber .45 ACP
, having an integrated Picatinny rail
, including Day/Night sights, and being capable of accepting a suppressor
.
On March 10, 2006 a modification to the earlier request was made, changing the name from Joint Combat Pistol to Combat Pistol. The number of pistols sought was reduced from 645,000 handguns to 50,000. This basically reverted back to the SOF Combat Pistol program in terms of its scale, as the Army dropped its participation. In Fall of 2006, the Combat Pistol (CP) program was suspended indefinitely.
In a 2007 supplemental session, the congressional defense sub-committee appropriated $5 million to a Joint Combat Pistol study.
(the result of a 1900 program) and the M9
(the result of a 1980s program). The previous adoption took over a decade, involved several acts of Congress and multiple lawsuits, and stirred up great controversy. The current program might have been shelved (such as the XM8 rifle
program) or result in few problems, though there is a great deal of potential for controversy. The short-lived JCP program was not an exception, only surviving a few months before being drastically scaled back and renamed. Its successor, the Combat Pistol program fared even worse, being halted just a few months later.
While this is the max procurement, in comparison the initial order for M9 pistols was for 300,000 pistols (followed by more later).
Taurus PT 24/7 OSS
Fabrique Nationale FNP45-USG HS-45 Para-Ordnance LDA 1911
M9 Pistol
The Beretta M9, formally Pistol, Semiautomatic, 9mm, M9, is a 9×19mm Parabellum pistol of the United States military adopted in 1985. It is essentially a military specification Beretta 92F, later the 92FS....
, extant from late 2005 to early 2006. The program was started in 2005 and run by USSOCOM. It is the result of a merger of two earlier programs, the Army's Future Handgun System (FHS) and the Special Operations Forces Combat Pistol. Current requirements for the JCP include being chambered for caliber .45 ACP
.45 ACP
The .45 ACP , also known as the .45 Auto by C.I.P., is a cartridge designed by John Browning in 1904, for use in his prototype Colt semi-automatic .45 pistol and eventually the M1911 pistol adopted by the United States Army in 1911.-Design and history:The U.S...
, having an integrated Picatinny rail
Picatinny rail
The Picatinny rail or MIL-STD-1913 rail or STANAG 2324 rail or a "Tactical Rail" is a bracket used on some firearms in order to provide a standardized mounting platform. A similar system is the Weaver rail mount.-Description:...
, including Day/Night sights, and being capable of accepting a suppressor
Suppressor
A suppressor, sound suppressor, sound moderator, or silencer, is a device attached to or part of the barrel of a firearm which reduces the amount of noise and flash generated by firing the weapon....
.
In a 2007 supplemental session, the congressional defense sub-committee appropriated $5 million to a Joint Combat Pistol study.
Background
A new cross-service US military sidearm is a notable event in that there have been only two major adoption programs over a 100-year span of military history. While new sidearms were adopted at a fairly steady pace in the late 19th century, the 20th century yielded only the M1911M1911
The M1911 is a single-action, semi-automatic, magazine-fed, and recoil-operated handgun chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge. John M. Browning designed the firearm which was the standard-issue side arm for the United States armed forces from 1911 to 1985. The M1911 is still carried by some U.S....
(the result of a 1900 program) and the M9
M9 Pistol
The Beretta M9, formally Pistol, Semiautomatic, 9mm, M9, is a 9×19mm Parabellum pistol of the United States military adopted in 1985. It is essentially a military specification Beretta 92F, later the 92FS....
(the result of a 1980s program). The previous adoption took over a decade, involved several acts of Congress and multiple lawsuits, and stirred up great controversy. The current program might have been shelved (such as the XM8 rifle
XM8 rifle
The XM8 was a developmental U.S. Military designation and project name for a lightweight assault rifle system that was under development by the United States Army from the late 1990s to early 2000s...
program) or result in few problems, though there is a great deal of potential for controversy. The short-lived JCP program was not an exception, only surviving a few months before being drastically scaled back and renamed. Its successor, the Combat Pistol program fared even worse, being halted just a few months later.
Overview of 2005 JCP Solicitation
This was based on original solicitation, which was later modified, and finally, heavily changed in March 2006, with the program renamed to Combat Pistol.- The notice starts: The USSOCOM intends to issue a solicitation to obtain commercially available non-developmental item (NDI) Joint Combat Pistol (JCP) system, Caliber .45 (ACP).
- Two configurations required: One with no external safety and the other configuration will have an external safety.
- The 'Combat Pistol System' is to consist of:
- a Caliber .45 pistol (designed for A475 and AA18 rounds)
- Magazines (standard and high-capacity);
- Suppressor Attachment Kit
- Holster
- Magazine Holder (standard and high-capacity)
- Cleaning Kit and Operator's Manual.
- Estimates for max procurement quantities for the system are listed as
- 45,000 no external safety
- 600,000 JCP with the external safety configuration
- 649,000 Holsters
- 96,050 Standard Capacity Magazines
- 192,099 High Capacity Magazines
- 667,000 Magazine Holders
- 132,037 Suppressor attachment kits
While this is the max procurement, in comparison the initial order for M9 pistols was for 300,000 pistols (followed by more later).
Timeline
A Q&A listed the following projected dates:- Final RFP Release: Projected in January 2006
- Proposal Response Deadline: Projected in March 2006
- Expected Contract Award Date: Projected in 4Q FY06.
- Projected First Delivery Order date and Quantities: The government will issue the first delivery order at time of award of the basic contract. Currently IDIQIDIQIDIQ is a contracting acronym meaning Indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity. This is a type of contract that provides for an indefinite quantity of supplies or services during a fixed period of time...
minimum quantity is 12 each JCPs without external manual safety which will be awarded as the initial Delivery Order.
JCP and CP Candidates
A large variety of .45 ACP pistols were entered into the competition. These include the Heckler & Koch HK45C SIG P220 Combat Ruger P345 Smith & Wesson M&P Glock 21SF Beretta Px4 StormBeretta Px4 Storm
The Beretta Px4 Storm is a semi-automatic pistol manufactured by Beretta of Italy and intended for personal defense and law enforcement use. The Px4 uses the same short-recoil, rotating barrel lock as the Beretta 8000 Models and uses the same operating system as the M9/92/96 series, while being...
Taurus PT 24/7 OSS
Taurus PT 24/7
Introduced to the firearms market in 2004, the Taurus PT 24/7 is a semi-automatic pistol using the short type of recoil operation, and available in various models with double action only and double action/single action type trigger actions...
Fabrique Nationale FNP45-USG HS-45 Para-Ordnance LDA 1911
Para-Ordnance
Para-Ordnance, is a Canadian firearms manufacturer founded in Toronto in 1985 by two childhood friends, Ted Szabo and Thanos Polyzos. Szabo was born in Hungary and his family fled the country when the Russians invaded during the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. Polyzos was born in Greece and later...
See also
- Modular Handgun SystemModular Handgun SystemThe Modular Handgun System is a U.S. military competition for a new handgun. The Modular Handgun System is anticipated to be the next U.S. military standard side arm replacing the M9 pistol.- Requirements :...
- Individual Carbine
- XM8 rifleXM8 rifleThe XM8 was a developmental U.S. Military designation and project name for a lightweight assault rifle system that was under development by the United States Army from the late 1990s to early 2000s...
- List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces