The Air Force command responsible for operating and securing nuclear weapons has resumed use of the Sig Sauer M18 pistol after completing inspections prompted by the fatal shooting of an airman at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming.
The Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) grounded its 7,970 pistols on July 21, a day after 21-year-old Airman 1st Class Brayden Lovan died from a gunshot wound. Investigators initially examined the possibility of an accidental discharge, but after a comprehensive inspection, AFGSC has cleared the M18 for continued use.
“Air Force Global Strike Command Security Forces Defenders are resuming arming with M18s that have successfully passed inspection – deeming them safe and reliable for use,” AFGSC said in a statement.
The M18, a compact version of Sig Sauer’s P320, and its full-size counterpart, the M17, are standard sidearms across the U.S. military.
While no issues were found with accidental discharge, the inspection revealed discrepancies in 191 weapons across the command’s M18 inventory, mainly related to component wear. The most frequent problems involved the safety lever, striker assembly, and sear.
Weapons with these issues were immediately tagged and sent for repair, according to the command.
As part of its commitment to safety, AFGSC has introduced enhanced inspection procedures for the M18 pistol. Bases under the command will now apply additional inspection criteria focused on the areas where potential issues were identified during the M18 pause.
“By incorporating these added measures, we assess that any issues found with the safety lever, striker assembly and sear will be identified during semi-annual and annual inspections,” said Lt. Col. George Hern, AFGSC chief of security forces. “As we execute M18 inspections in the future, we will be taking a particular interest in these components to ensure these methods address the issues we found and make adjustments as needed.”
Meanwhile, the Air Force continues its probe into Lovan’s death through the Office of Special Investigations, though no additional details have been released. Earlier in August, an airman was taken into custody in connection with the fatal shooting and now faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and obstruction of justice.
