Why Do US Air Force Pilots Carry Handguns? |
Why Do US Air Force Pilots Carry Handguns?
Share this link on Facebook
Share this page on X (Twitter)
Share this link on LinkedIn
Share this page on Reddit
Email a link to this page
In the event of a shootdown and recovery in enemy territory, it is better for a stranded pilot to have a gun and not need one than the reverse.
US military pilots are typically armed in combat zones. The purpose is not typically offensive combat; a downed pilot could not hope to stand up to enemy ground troops with far greater firepower. Instead, a pilot’s gun is used for survival and last-resort self-defense, making it an invaluable tool for pilots stranded behind enemy lines.
American Pilots Usually Have a Handgun—and Sometimes a Rifle
The primary sidearm of US military aviators is the Sig Sauer M18, a compact military handgun, part of the Modular Handgun System. The 9x19mm caliber M18 was chosen for its reliability and its modular design. From a technical perspective, the M18 is a semi-automatic pistol,........