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 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 effectively reverted to the SOF Combat Pistol program in terms of its scale, as the army dropped its participation. In the autumn of 2006, the Combat Pistol program was suspended indefinitely. 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 M1911 and the M9. 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 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 Joint Combat Pistol system, Caliber.45.
Two configurations required: One with no external safety and the other configuration will have an external safety.
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.
JCP and CP candidates
A large variety of.45 ACP pistols were entered into the competition. These include the:
