SIG SAUER, Inc. Secures a $306 Million Pistol Contract by the U.S. Army's Material Co

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damien

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http://www.policeone.com/police-pro...l-Contract-by-the-U-S-Armys-Material-Command/

EXETER, NH (April 28, 2009) SIG SAUER, Inc. announced today that it has secured a multi-year contract to provide pistols to the U.S. Army’s Material Command. The potential value for all quantities and the related customer support package is $306 million. The initial order of 55,890 units is to be released as the standard sidearm for the entire Colombian National Police force. Shipments are to begin immediately with a second release of 42,000 pistols to follow.

Ron Cohen, President and CEO, stated that he is proud that SIG SAUER’s long standing reputation for superior reliability and quality has been recognized with this exceptional contract. Moreover, it provides an opportunity for SIG SAUER to continue to expand its manufacturing facilities and create U.S. jobs at a time when other companies are downsizing and exporting jobs overseas. Mr. Cohen further stated that the breadth of SIG customers is evidence of the worldwide acceptance and demand for SIG SAUER products. These customers include numerous elite law enforcement, military, and government agencies (e.g. the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Secret Service, Navy Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS), U.S. Navy SEALs, U.S. Air Force OSI, British SAS, French National Police, and the Colombian National Police).

Employing over 350 skilled workers at its Exeter, NH facility, the company has been on a continuous program of expansion and growth. State-of-the-art automated machines now populate the majority of the facility, the result of over $30 million dollars invested over the past four years.

Q1: Why are we doing this. :confused:
Q2: $306 million / 97,890 guns = $3,125 per gun :eek:
 
Q2: $306 million / 97,890 guns = $3,125 per gun

These contracts generally include spares, training for armorers, tools, etc wrapped into the purchase price.

The initial order of 55,890 units is to be released as the standard sidearm for the entire Colombian National Police force.

That's the part I can't figure out. We're buying crooked Columbian cops guns to sell on the black market. Genius.
 
More importantly, why are my tax dollars buying arms for the Columbian National Police Force? They'll likely end up being used to enforce the will of some 2-bit South American politician.
 
We're buying crooked Columbian cops guns to sell on the black market. Genius.

We're selling Sigs to Columbia police, M16's to the Mexican army, etc. Its no small wonder that American guns end up in the hands of drug cartels and border gangs. I got a hint for our politicians... it aint the gun shows.
 
The US government does stuff like this all the time. It is supplying the legitimate Columbian government in an attempt to fight the FARC rebels that have plagued the country for a long time.
 
More importantly, why are my tax dollars buying arms for the Columbian National Police Force? They'll likely end up being used to enforce the will of some 2-bit South American politician.

Here-in lies the "genius" of international diplomacy and financial support. Much of the money the USA gives to an ally is not pure cash, but it is 'credits' towards the purchase of USA-made equipment & training -this is money that comes back to American hands. At $3K+ per pistol, this isn't a bad 'sale' for the USA companies involved. Note the 350 American jobs that this will support.

Would people rather have them buy ex-Soviet makarovs with US-supplied money?
 
The US government does stuff like this all the time. It is supplying the legitimate Columbian government in an attempt to fight the FARC rebels that have plagued the country for a long time.

Half of these guns will soon be owned by FARC rebels when Columbian policemen mysteriously "lose" them and subsequently "find" a thousand dollars lying on the street.
 
I don't see the link between the "US Army Material Command" and the "entire Colombian National Police force"?

Is there a connection from the one to the other that I just missed?
 
What SIG-Sauer model?

Is it the P-2022 series? Or the new P-250 model?

I saw how S&W got a contract for the SIGMA line in SW Asia/OEF. Those seem cheap compared to the HK or SIG lines but who knows....
:D

RS
 
Note the 350 American jobs that this will support.

Would people rather have them buy ex-Soviet makarovs with US-supplied money?

I would rather them buy whatever they wanted with their own money - not US money, or "credits", or funny money or whatever.

You point out this "supports" 350 US jobs.
Not really.

They take $100 in taxes from me, pay the IRS guy, a few corrupt officials skim a dollar or two, Sig takes it's cut, and by the time it actually gets around to "supporting" those jobs, there's only $50 left - maybe. Why not just let me hire someone and create 2 jobs for every 1 the bureaucracy can produce.
 
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I don't see the link between the "US Army Material Command" and the "entire Colombian National Police force"?

Is there a connection from the one to the other that I just missed?

the article implies that the order is being purchased by the "U.S. Army’s Material Command", but is then being supplied to the "the entire Colombian National Police force". The rest of what people said about FARC and the guns ending up in the black market is speculation.

"The initial order of 55,890 units is to be released as the standard sidearm for the entire Colombian National Police force"
 
Yet another example of the USG's interference in foreign affairs and the free market.

I find it funny myself that the Columbians are getting these pistols for over
3k when they could have gone with a whole bunch of companies who would have provided a cheaper product arguably as good. (Arcus in Bulgaria could probably do it @ a $400 unit cost including support, if not less. And they'd get a NATO standard 9mm pistol, unlike if they went with ex-Soviet fair. Arcus ain't the best, but they do work)

I smell a boatload of rats on this one.
 
I find it funny myself that the Columbians are getting these pistols for over
3k when they could have gone with a whole bunch of companies who would have provided a cheaper product arguably as good.
How could the Columbians have found anything cheaper than free? You must have missed the part about how we are buying the guns and then giving them free of charge to the Columbians.
 
Actually, the Colombian government is doing pretty dang good right now. FARC is rapidly disintegrating, and the government's area of control is rapidly expanding.
 
I don't see the link between the "US Army Material Command" and the "entire Colombian National Police force"?

Is there a connection from the one to the other that I just missed?

Generally speaking, only VERY close allies of our country (Great Britain, Austrailia, Canada, etc) can buy American-made military/police hardware straight from the manufacturer. Otherwise they have to be sponsored by an intermediary, in this case the US Army. Basically, we give preferential treatment to countries that we never have to worry about getting aggressive against us.

Its the same reasoning that Australia and Canada can buy F/A-18's straight from Boeing and Israel can get F-16's straight from Lockheed (even factory painted in IDF/AF camo and serials, to boot) with the newest avionics, etc. In contrast, places like Egypt, Pakistan, Thailand, etc have to buy F-16's through the USAF, and wear USAF serials and roundels during test and ferry flights, until formally delivered. Not to mention that they're only allowed to buy them with relatively outdated or stripped down systems.
 
Our tax dollars to support a perpetual failed state on what could be called a failed continent, by supplying weapons that will likely end up in the hands of drug gangs...

...all to make it more expensive and risky for those who want to get high using means not approved by Big Brother.
 
You guys are 60 years behind the times.

Remember "Lend Lease" from WWII? Supplied weaponry to our allies and helped USA build-up an armaments industry by doing so. Helped the USA win WWII.

This has been happening ever since. Not just weapons, but food, heavy machinery, technical know-how...

USA "donates" money to other countries, the news just reports a dollar amount: the actual transaction is in the form of credits. When foreign countries spend these credits, they can only buy American-made. You guys really think we can compete otherwise against the EU, Japan, China?

Folks, this has helped the "Made in USA" brand stay alive and popular in other countries.

Like it or not, this is how it is. I don't even know if it can really be determined how many American jobs are at least partly reliant to these types of deals, but if you still have a manufacturing job, part of your paycheck likely comes from this kind of activity.
 
This is really a DEA program but is being run through a U.S. Army contract. The Colombians are receiving the Sig Pro 2022. The situation in Colombia is a huge U.S. success. They are winning a two front war against marxist rebels and paramilitary drug cartels. Colombia is our strongest ally in South America and the people are very pro-U.S. They are also a counter balance to Chavez.
 
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