Bid To Win

The pistol is officially presented as the Model 92. The first military adoption is made by the Italian CONSUBIN (the Italian Navy "SEAL" teams) and from the Brazilian Army (1975/76).

The 92 becomes the Model 92S thanks to technical improvements (like the decocking lever safety) made to military specifications. The 92S is first largely adopted by the Italian State Police, and is later sold on the U. S. commercial market.

Beretta U. S. A. Corp. is founded, manufacturing in Accokeek, Maryland.

The American (Joint Services Small Arms Program) JSSAP program begins. It is managed by the USAF and is tasked to select the new Armed Forces handgun.

U. S. Navy purchases 92 series pistols for SEAL Team 6.

Beretta enters the JSSAP program with the Model 92S-1, a new version modified to meet the tender’s specifications (ambidextrous safety lever, reversible magazine button, checkered grips, etc.). In all tests, the 92S outperforms and wins against all competitors.

The 92S-1 becomes the 92SB (the automatic firing pin block safety was added) and it is adopted by the Italian State Police, Carabinieri and Guardia di Finanza. One of the most important agencies to adopt the 92SB in the United States was the Connecticut State Police.

The victory and success of Beretta at the JSSAP tender was contested by the competitors that lost.

The U. S. Department of Defense decides to repeat the tests and launches a new tender with the denomination of XM9 (Experimental Model).

The XM9 program starts and Beretta presents the model 92SB-F (combat-style trigger guard, Bruniton coating, chrome-lined bore, new grips).

The U.S. Army announces the victory of the 92 SB-F, soon to be renamed the M9. Contract awarded April 10, 1985. According to the military contract the first supply is for 315,930 pistols for a total value of approximately $75 million USD. The M9 becomes the standard sidearm for the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard).

The 92 SB-F M9 is simply renamed the Model 92F for the commercial market. At the same time the production of the Model 98F (9x21IMI caliber) begins in Italy for the civilian market.

Beretta wins another important tender with the adoption of the 92G pistol by the French Gendarmerie-110,000 pistols were delivered. The 92G features a slide-mounted decocking lever that returns to the firing position when released. Beretta U. S. A. begins production of the M9/92F at its U. S. facility based in Accokeek, Maryland.

The U. S. Congress launches another program called the XM10. Beretta presents the model 92FS(with slide stop safety).

The tender is won by the 92FS, for approximately 50,000 pistols. In the end, 25 U. S. State Police agencies will adopt the 92 pistol series, in addition to the U. S. Navy, U. S. Army, U. S. Marines and U. S. Border Patrol.

An agreement is signed for the supply of 45,000 92FS pistols for the Spanish Guardia Civil. The same year, about 40,000 - 92 series pistols were also supplied to the Turkish Police Force. More recently a new contract for 18,744 - 92FS pistols to the U. S. Air Force was awarded.

Beretta U.S.A. wins 13 separate U.S. military contracts to provide M9 pistols and parts to all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, including a contract to provide 60,000 M9 pistols to the U.S. Air Force and Army as well as a contract to provide 3,500 M9A1 pistols and over 140,000 special sand and corrosion-resistant magazines to the U.S. Marine Corps.

In September, another contract, to provide 10,576 series 92 pistols to the US Army to the US Navy, is awarded.

Beretta U.S.A. Corp. announces its receipt of a U.S. Army contract to provide up to 450,000 Beretta Model 92FS pistols to U.S. military customers throughout the world. The total value of the contract, if all pistol quantities and associated spare parts are ordered, is $220 million, making it the largest U.S. military pistol contract awarded since WWII. The contract is awarded along with a first delivery order for 20,000 pistols intended for the Iraqi military. Delivery of pistols against the contract has already begun, with over 50,000 pistols now scheduled for delivery by the end of 2010.

Beretta launches the new Model 92A1 and 96A1 pistol in 9mm and 40 S&W calibers. This evolution of the world famous 92FS integrates the best features of the 90-Two pistol: increased capacity magazines (THREE included per pistol), removable front sight, accessory rail, captive recoil spring assembly, rounded trigger guard and frame recoil buffer. Beretta U.S.A. continues to deliver Model 92FS pistols against the contract awarded by the U.S. Army in 2009.