considering that the .gov just placed a contract in the last year or so for up to 450,000 berettas, I don’t see this going any further than the joint pistol program proposed by the air force about 3 years ago that landed dead in the water.
From a standpoint of a gun not designed to be concealed there is nothing wrong with the beretta as long as quality mags are used which you can say about any autoloading firearm.
I carried one in both Iraq and Afghanistan and have no problem with them.
The weapon shall also have an external, manually operated safety button/switch operable with one hand.
Not calling you out or anything Magic Salad, but that word means it is a requirement, so unfortunately no Glock. Like you said, the P30 would be a good choice, but there are several good choices. Logistically speaking it’s “nice” that the military is, yet again, spending money to replace the Beretta as the service sidearm. With so many cutbacks I don’t see this going anywhere. It’s a secondary small arm, meaning there are more important things the military can spend their money on. The Beretta adequately fills the needs of the military at this time. It’s a good, if somewhat dated, design and it’s reliable when cared for and maintained properly (something the military should focus on).
Im just going to hope in here for a minute. Being in the military myself dont we tend to stick with NATO rounds aka 9mm and 5.56. So with that wouldnt that cancel out the .45 cal, or is that a NATO round too. Also as I have never shot one why has no one mentioned a Sig? I know HK is a good handgun and the Germans already have it as their issue weapon I was just wondering the reason why no one mentioned the Sig. And as previously mentioned even if the Glocks were allowed with all their issues with the fourth gens with the PD’s I dont think it would be a smart idea to adopt that. Unless we could get the 3rd gens. 
As someone who owns many H&K pistols, I’d care to hear that explanation…
For one, it does have to be the LOWEST bidder:jester:
Marines might…
The old USAF MHS needed a safety, don’t know if the new Army MHS does. HK and FN fit the old specs best (modular fire control system, safety).
We’ve started this fandango before. SOF-CP, FHS, JCP, CP, AFH, AFFH, MHS… Couldn’t get everybody on the same page and/or funding was denied.
DOD did negotiate an option on up to 450K more M9s at $220 million. Exercising those options could get us through the next 25 yrs cheaper than a new trial and subsequent contract. That might end up being more important then a better pistol to the folks who pay for it.