Australian soldiers get their hands on next-gen pistol

Australian Army soldiers have begun fielding the next-generation service pistol, marking a major milestone for the LAND 300 Lethality System Program. Brisbane’s Gallipoli Barracks-based 7th Brigade is the first operational unit to be equipped with the new Sidearm Weapon System (SWS) after a successful testing program conducted by NIOA and Defence’s Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG). The SWS consists of the Sig Sauer P320 pistol, Romeo 2 red dot sight, a white light torch, holster and retractable lanyard. It replaces the long-serving Browning Mk3 pistol and will be known in service as the F9 pistol. Additional equipment includes a simulation pistol for the WTSS (Weapon Training Simulation System), a paint marking round conversion kit and red coloured weighted replica for use as part of Army Combative Program (ACP) training. Components of the system are supplied by various Australian companies with NIOA bringing together products from five major suppliers to integrate and deliver to Defence as a fully certified mission system ahead of schedule. The successful fielding to Army’s School of Infantry in December 2024 paved the way for the rollout of the F9 pistol to the first operational units of 7th Brigade in February. Soldiers have commenced conversion training, consisting of introductory lessons, dry manual handling drills, simulated firing using Defence’s Weapon Training Simulation System (WTSS) and live range firing. NIOA Australia-New Zealand CEO Ben James said NIOA’s project team was on hand throughout the rollout to provide armourer familiarisation training, expertise and advice as well as validating the training against the analysis of training requirements delivered earlier as part of the project, earning high praise from Defence. “With CASG coordinating the rollout, and NIOA personnel delivering directly from our facility to user units, the distribution of the F9 pistol to the first units has been a huge success,” he said. Planning is already under way for the next phases of the rollout which will see the majority of units Australia wide receiving their new F9 pistols by December. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at [email protected]