The U.S. Air Force has ordered a comprehensive safety inspection of all M18 pistols in its inventory following the fatal shooting of an airman at F.E. Warren Air Force Base last month.
Airman Brayden Lovan, 21, of the 90th Security Forces Squadron, died July 20 when a service-issued M18 pistol discharged. The Air Force identified Lovan four days after the incident, which remains under investigation.
In response, the Air Force announced late last week that it will inspect its entire stock of approximately 125,000 M18 pistols.
“The Air Force directed the service-wide supplemental inspection of the M18 out of caution to validate the serviceability of weapons and reinforce confidence in their use,” a service spokesperson said. “Weapons safety is a critical responsibility and we continue to prioritize the security of our airmen and guardians as they perform their challenging missions.”
This marks the largest action taken by the service to date regarding the M18. Two major commands — Air Force Global Strike Command and some elements of Air Combat Command — had already paused or limited the use of the pistols pending the outcome of the investigation.
The M18 is the compact variant of Sig Sauer’s P320 pistol, part of the military’s Modular Handgun System. It is widely used across the Air Force, as well as by the Navy, Marine Corps, and Army. The other services have not announced similar inspections or pauses.
The P320 design has faced allegations in recent years of discharging without the trigger being pulled, though Sig Sauer has denied the claims. In a statement last week, the manufacturer said the M18 “has been thoroughly tested and validated,” insisting that the weapon is safe.
It is unclear how long the inspections will take or whether additional measures, including expanded pauses or modifications, will follow.
For now, Air Force officials say the inspections are intended to ensure the functionality of the pistols and restore confidence in their use.
