Over the last 30 years, Beretta USA Corporation has delivered over 600,000 M9 pistols (the sidearm of the U.S. Armed Forces) to the DOD (Department of Defense), all of which have been made in the U.S.A. by an American Workforce. Beretta USA has identified major improvements to the M9 that increases the operational effectiveness and operational suitability of the weapon. These improvements consist of design and material changes resulting in increased modularity, reliability, durability, and ergonomics. On 10 December 2014 Beretta USA submitted the M9 ECP (Engineering Change Proposal) to the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan.

In accordance with contract W56HZV-12-D-0011, Section C-9, 52.248-4500, Configuration Management Documentation, Beretta USA is responsible for recommending and submitting ECPs, which directly improve performance, reliability, quality, safety, and overall life cycle costs.

The M9 ECP is Beretta USA’s offer to the U.S. Army for a Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS)/Government-Off-The-Shelf (GOTS) handgun variant of the M9, the M9A3, in accordance with the terms of the current M9 contract. The ECP has the potential to save hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer funding during a challenging fiscal environment.

Beretta USA has also identified a solution to upgrade the existing M9 to an M9A2, nearly replicating the M9A3.

The M9A3 features a thin grip with a removable, modular wrap-around grip, MIL-STD-1913 accessory rail, convertible safety/decocker lever to decocker-only lever, removable front and rear tritium sights, extended and threaded barrel for suppressor use, 17-round sand resistant magazine, and numerous improved small components to increase durability and ergonomics, all in an earth tone finish.

The M9A3:

• Requires no new training for users;
• Is compatible with numerous, already-in-service accessories and training systems;
• Minimally impacts the current Integrated Logistics Support Plan (ILSP) for the M9;
• Is more reliable, capable, and durable than the M9;
• Depending on quantities, will cost less than the current M9.

New, enhanced 9-mm ammunition is available on the market today. This ammunition, along with any developmental 9-mm ammunition, should be evaluated for use with the M9A3.

In the U.S. Army’s own survey of M9 users, 74% offered recommendations for improvements to the pistol – improvements that are available on the M9A3 today. Small arms program representatives of the U.S. Army have identified and verbalized several concerns regarding ergonomics and performance aspects of the M9; Beretta has listened and delivered the M9A3.

Beretta USA is fully prepared to negotiate Government Purpose Rights (GPR) and entertain other discussions, technical or program related, which will benefit the end user, the U.S. Army and all Services, the DOD, U.S. taxpayer, and all other M9/M9A3 stakeholders.

The M9A3, as proposed by Beretta USA, is a joint industry/government proposition delivering a best value solution during a challenging fiscal environment. Adoption of the M9A3 will improve operational effectiveness and operational suitability for the Services at a fraction of the cost of a new start program. The M9A3 product improvement conforms to the U.S. Army’s past practice of incremental design improvements and upgrades to existing weapon systems.

Features

Receiver

• Vertec thin style straight grip
• Removable, wrap-around grip (not pictured)
• 3 slot MIL-STD-1913 rail
• Aggressive checkering on front and back strap
• Vertec thin grip panels (brown)
• Beveled magazine well
• Polymer lanyard loop
• Oversized magazine button
• Improved hammer release lever pin
• Anodized earth tone finish

Slide and barrel assembly

• Removable front dovetail sight
• Tritium night sights (front and rear)
• Improved extractor pin
• Universal slide design – interchangeable ‘F’ and ‘G’ style levers
• Over-center safety levers

Barrel and locking block assembly

• 3rd generation locking block
• 3rd generation, extended threaded barrel
• Thread protector (screw on)
• Cerakote earth tone finish

Recoil spring and recoil spring guide

• Polymer recoil guide rod

Magazine

• 15- or 17-round sand resistant magazine

Other

• Improved small components

Technical Specifications

Caliber	9-mm Luger (9×19-mm Parabellum)
System of operation	Short recoil, semi-automatic, double/single action
Magazine capacity	17 rounds standard. Optional 15, 20 and 30 round magazines available
Magazine	Sand-resistant magazine with PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) coating
Front sight	Blade, dovetailed to slide, tritium dot
Rear sight	Notched bar, dovetailed to slide, tritium 2-dot. Adjustable for windage
Safety features	Decocking/safety lever, automatic firing pin block, loaded chamber indicator, external hammer, half-cock notch, double action first trigger pull (Type F configuration)
Locking system	Tilting locking block, «3rd Gen» design for increased service life
External hammer	Provides the energy to the firing pin, virtually eliminating the possibility of misfires due to light primer strikes, even in adverse conditions. Also provides an immediate visual and tactile indicator as to the cocked/uncocked status of the pistol
Finish	Flat Dark Earth. Cerakote, anodizing, Bruniton, black oxide, PVD. Advanced coatings provide high lubricity, corrosion resistance and excellent wear resistance. Reduced visual and IR signature. Chrome lined bore and chamber
Accessory rail	3 slot MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail
Barrel thread	1/2″ × 28 standard thread on extended barrel, with thread protector
Accessories	Wrap-around backstrap grip unit for larger handed shooters
Grip/Frame	«Vertec» style smaller gripped frame with straight backstrap and thin plastic grips
Additional features	«Universal» slide design to allow Armorer conversion to «G» decocker-only operation using Conversion Kit. «Over-center» safety lever to prevent inadvertent engagement of lever. Oversize beveled magazine well
Overall height	5.4 in/137.16 mm
Overall width	1.5 in/38.1 mm (1.3 in/33.02 mm at grips)
Overall length	8.7 in/220.98 mm
Barrel length	5.1 in/129.54 mm
Sight radius	6.3 in/160.02 mm
Weight unloaded	33.3 oz/944.039 g