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US Air Force Orders Inspection of All M18 Pistols After Airman’s Death
Service-wide safety review launched after fatal discharge at F.E. Warren AFB
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Cheyenne, WY
The U.S. Air Force has initiated a service-wide inspection of all M18 pistols following the July 20 death of Airman Brayden Tyriq Lovan, 21, of the 90th Security Forces Squadron at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. Lovan died after an M18 discharged while he was on duty. The cause of the incident remains under investigation. Air Force Global Strike Command had already suspended M18 use on July 22 pending further review. The inspection covers approximately 125,000 service-issued M18s, a compact variant of the Sig Sauer P320, which replaced the Beretta M9 under a $22 million contract in 2020. The pistol is also in service with the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. An Air Force spokesperson said the inspection is a precautionary measure to ensure weapon serviceability and bolster user confidence. The M18, featuring an external safety lever, has been the subject of lawsuits and user complaints over alleged unintentional discharges. Sig Sauer maintains that the P320 design is mechanically incapable of firing without the trigger being pulled, citing extensive independent and military testing. Sig Sauer has offered technical assistance to the Air Force as the investigation proceeds.