The first holster to be issued with the US Army’s new Modular Handgun System, including both the M17 and M18 pistols, will be a variant of the Safariland 7TS holster, featuring both ALS and SLS locking systems. The holster is the first of at least three holsters to be procured as part of the MHS program, to be followed by a variant that accommodates an aiming laser/light module, as well as a concealed holster for the M18 compact variant. The holster was procured through the tailored logistics program, and the vendor selected for its ability to meet MHS’s timeline, according to a Military.com article written by Matthew Cox.

Image source: Matthew Cox, Military.com. Used with permission.

The Safariland 7TS holster uses a thumb break locking lever to hold the pistol firmly in the holster and prevent snatching, backed up by a simple rotating strap that covers the back of the pistol and prevents it from being freed. Both mechanisms can be released quickly with a single motion of the thumb, during unholstering. When reholstered, the ALS locking lever automatically engages, securing the pistol. The SLS retention loop can then be engaged for further security. The holsters are being procured in a tan color, likely Safariland’s flat dark earth, and come with a full suite of mounting options, including low-ride, drop leg, and molle mounting brackets. Army representatives also emphasized the need for a follow-on holster design which accommodates an aiming laser and light:

“We are working a soldier enhancement program to look at a pistol aiming laser which is a white light, infrared laser, so they have that night shooting capability, according to Daryl Eastlick, the deputy of the Lethality Branch at the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, Georgia.

The Army recently closed a request for proposal for the follow-on holster design which would hold the XM17 with an aiming laser/white light already mounted to the pistol.

“The last thing I want them to be able to have to do is draw a loaded weapon and put a light or a laser on it while it’s loaded under fire,” Eastlick said. “Probably not the best idea, so we need a holster that will hold the weapon system that is enabled and already ready to use.”