Joint Service Small Arms Program
[2] By 1977 their inventory was wearing out, and the USAF requested special ammunition for the M15 to improve its effectiveness due to malfunctions it suffered.
[citation needed] This task was assigned to the newly created Joint Service Small Arms Program (JSSAP).
The United States Military forces had been using a variety of different small arms which grew over the years to about ten different types of handguns.
[5] Basic Requirements: Safety System: The Air Force invited several makers to compete in this testing program.
The first round of these handgun tests occurred in 1979-1980 at Eglin Air Force Base in Northwestern Florida.
[7] The eight pistols that were entered for the 1979-1980 trials were:[8] The existing standard M1911A1 and the Smith & Wesson M15 .38 Special handguns were also tested to compare to those which were submitted for comparison.
[citation needed] The Beretta 92S-1 performed the best overall and was announced as the clear winner, having exceeded the stated goals in several cases.
[11][12] P9S easily won the accuracy phase of testing but fell into disfavor when its operating controls failed to adapt themselves to left-handed use.
The Heckler & Koch VP70, with its then unusual trigger mechanism (a three round burst selection was available when the supplied stock was attached), allowed only double action firing and failed the hand-held accuracy portion of the tests.
As for the endurance tests, the four P9S specimens fired a total of 18,697 rounds with 360 stoppages, producing an MRBS number of 52 (18,697/360).
The US Army used the fact that the Air Force did not replace the magazines which caused poor M1911A1 performance was cited as a reason to invalidate all test results.
It was not possible to make an award because the submitted weapon samples substantially failed to meet the essential requirements contained in the procurement solicitation.
Colt exacerbated this thought when they subsequently offer an unsolicited proposal to convert existing M1911A1 handguns to 9mm.
[citation needed] The Army's response was that all the contenders had failed in areas of reliable operations in low temperature, sand and mud.
[18][additional citation(s) needed] Out of the eight submitted entries, only the Beretta 92SB-F and the SIG Sauer P226 were found "technically acceptable finalists".
Subsequently, both Fabrique Nationale Herstal and Colt Manufacturing Company would voluntarily withdraw their entries, with the former on May 31 and the latter on July 18.
On September 18, 1984, the submissions by Carl Walther Waffenfabrik, Heckler & Koch and Smith & Wesson were all terminated.
The P88 was terminated for failing drop test, dispersion, corrosion resistance, and adverse conditions requirements.
