Joint Combat Pistol

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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 is being run by USSOCOM as of 2005. 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. Among the current requirements for the JCP, include being chambered for .45 ACP, having an integrated rail, Day/Night sights, and 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.^[1] In Fall of 2006, the Combat Pistol (CP) program was suspended indefinitely.^[2]

1 Background
2 Overview of 2005 JCP Solicitation
3 Timeline
4 JCP and CP Candidates
5 Notes
6 External links
7 See also

[edit] 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 fairly steady pace in the late 1800s, the 1900s yielded only the M1911 (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 cancelled (such as with XM8 rifle) or result in little 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 faired even worse, being halted just a few months later.

[edit] 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 AA475 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 procurment 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).

[edit] 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 IDIQ minimum quantity is 12 each JCPs without external manual safety which will be awarded as the initial Delivery Order.

[edit] JCP and CP Candidates

While there is no official information on what pistols have submitted bids, there are several pistol designs considered prime examples of JCP prototypes. These include the Heckler & Koch HK45, SIG SAUER P220 Combat, S&W 4563TSW, Ruger P345, the Beretta Px4 Storm in .45 auto, or a modified double action M1911 design. The Glock 21 would not be qualified due to a lack of an external safety; however, there are already Glocks made in Europe with a manual safety, so it is possible that Glock could submit a sample.