Army to replace Browning with Glock 17 9mm after 50 years

This is the first time since 1967 that British troops are issued new sidearm.

10:56 13 January 2013

The Ministry of Defence has signed a £9m contract to replace Browning pistol, which British troops have been using as sidearm since 1967, with Block 17 9mm.

 

British Armed Forces are now in the process of purchasing 25,000 Glock. Among the first people who will be issued with the new sidearm include troops serving in Afghanistan where enemies sometimes attract a very close range.

 

Colonel Peter Warden from MoD team who introduced the weapon said that pistol from Browning had become increasingly expensive to maintain and that they’re no longer the ideal weapon at this time.
He says: "We began to lose a little bit of confidence in its reliability. So we trialled seven different weapons, and got down to the Glock as the best of the bunch.”

 

The new pistol was tested in several environments and climate for several months.
Weapons specialist Staff Sgt Matthew Hodgkinson concludes, "It offers peace of mind."

"You need to know that wherever you are, whatever you're doing, if your main weapon fails, you have that secondary system - and that within seconds you and your comrades can draw your pistol and engage the enemy."