The US is equipped with weapons that can shoot with absolute precision.

This information comes from General Andrew P. Poppas, Commander of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division, whose unit has received the new generation of advanced modular pistol systems: the M17 and M18.

According to the U.S. military, the new weapons are more accurate, easier to fire, and more lethal than their predecessors, and will gradually replace the M9 pistol, which has been the standard weapon for the past 31 years.

General Andrew P. Poppas stated: "To maintain our decisive advantage, we must continue to outmaneuver potential adversaries with greater lethality, from the modular pistol system we are introducing today to the ongoing improvements, attack concepts, equipment, and training of the 101st Unit."

The general stated that the M17, also known as the P320 XM17, is a modular handgun developed at the request of the US Air Force in 2008. It was initiated simultaneously with the US Army's program to design a new personal weapon to replace the M9.

The project arose when the US Army realized that the M9 pistol was prone to corrosion, leading to reduced effectiveness towards the end of its operational lifespan. Furthermore, the M9 pistol was considered an outdated platform, requiring an early replacement. Therefore, the M17 was created, offering superior combat effectiveness, accuracy, and reliability compared to the Beretta M9.

The American manufacturer stated that, in addition to the standard version, a shortened variant has also been purchased by the US military for deployment. According to plan, the first M17s have officially entered service with the US Army.

An order for approximately 280,000 M17s is expected. This is considered the largest handgun purchase since 1985, when the US Army adopted and put the Beretta 92FS into service under the designation M9. The M17 will gradually completely replace the M9 in the near future.

The U.S. Marine Corps is also participating in the M17 program, however, it is unlikely they will purchase new ones before the M9s reach the end of their service life in 2020. There have been complaints regarding the effectiveness of the 9x19 mm ammunition used by the M9, so the M17 is required to be able to fire a variety of different ammunition types.

Ultimately, the US chose the SIG Sauer P320, which, in addition to 9x19 mm ammunition, can fire other calibers such as .40S & W, .375 SIG, .380 ACP, and .45 ACP. SIG Sauer will supply adapters for each type of ammunition.

The M17 is a fully automatic pistol with a short recoil mechanism for loading, a high-molecular-weight polymer body, a high-strength stainless steel barrel, and ambidextrous safety locks for easy gun control.

The M9 was previously criticized for being too heavy, so the M17 was required to reduce its weight as much as possible. The M17 comes with two magazine capacities: 17 and 21 rounds. The .40S&W and .375 SIG versions use 14-round magazines. The .45 ACP variant has a 10-round magazine.

The M17 is designed with mechanical sights featuring a reflective dot for easy aiming. Its effective range is 50 meters. The M17 pistol comes with a standard Picatinny rail under the barrel for attaching combat accessories, including flashlights and laser sights. With this equipment, the American manufacturer claims the M17 can accurately engage any target within its range.