The Swiss armed forces have selected the SIG Sauer P320 to become their new standard service pistol, replacing the decades-old SIG P220 (Pistol 75), which has equipped troops since the 1970s.
This decision is part of the New Generation sidearm program conducted with the Swiss Defence Procurement Office. The agency noted that the P320 fulfills national defense requirements, including mandatory Swiss industrial participation.
SIG Sauer—based in the US but operating an office in Schaffhausen—confirmed it will establish production inside Switzerland, supporting the nation’s armament and supply-chain security strategy.
The procurement process involved rigorous testing, including technical evaluations, field performance trials, and assessments of logistics and safety. In 2024, the P320, Glock G45 Gen 5, and Heckler & Koch SFP9 emerged as finalists. Although the Glock satisfied all essential technical criteria, the P320 was ultimately chosen based on a comprehensive policy and economic review. This assessment concluded that the SIG model offered major benefits, among them the lowest life-cycle cost over its planned 30-year service life.
The P320 required some improvements to enhance user comfort and durability, but these modifications were approved and guaranteed by the manufacturer. Switzerland intends to acquire around 140,000 pistols, starting with an initial procurement of 50,000. The allocated budget includes a mid-range, double-digit million amount, which also covers holsters, training kits, and inert training pistols.
