Documents
United States Smith & Wesson
M&P9
A polymer-framed, striker-fired service pistol developed by Smith & Wesson to compete for U.S. law-enforcement and military contracts, featuring an interchangeable palmswell grip system. The M&P9 is one of the most widely issued duty pistols among American police departments.
In service since 2005 · 15 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
50
m range
360
m/s
17
rds
💲 ≈ $550, Approximate retail/law-enforcement contract price
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
US ITAR-controlled
Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.
Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale
Fielded & proven
Widely fielded · 15 operators
In service since 2005. Status: active · ~3,000,000 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
Unit cost known; one-shot / small-arms class has no meaningful O&S tail to model.
Interoperability
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Effective range Distance at which the weapon reliably hits point targets. Higher extends engagement envelope. | 50 m |
|---|---|
| Muzzle velocity Projectile speed leaving the barrel. Higher means flatter trajectory and better armor penetration. | 360 m/s |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 9×19 mm Parabellum |
|---|---|
| Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better, ammunition commonality matters. | 9 mm |
| Ammunition Rounds carried (main gun) or standard magazine capacity. | 17 |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 0.19 m |
|---|---|
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 1 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 1 |
| Barrel length Barrel length, longer improves muzzle velocity and accuracy, shorter improves handling. | 114 mm |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $550 |
|---|---|
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 3,000,000 |
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 15 |
Specifications compiled from public Smith & Wesson and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
Beretta 92FS 
FN Herstal Browning Hi-Power 
Ceska zbrojovka (CZ) CZ 75 Head-to-head comparisons
M&P9 vs
Frequently asked questions
How many crew does the Smith & Wesson M&P9 require? +
The Smith & Wesson M&P9 requires a crew of 1.
What is the main armament of the Smith & Wesson M&P9? +
The Smith & Wesson M&P9's primary weapon is the 9×19 mm Parabellum.
What is the Smith & Wesson M&P9 used for? +
The Smith & Wesson M&P9 is a pistol & sidearm typically used for infantry combat.
How many countries operate the Smith & Wesson M&P9? +
The Smith & Wesson M&P9 is operated by 15 countries.
How much does the Smith & Wesson M&P9 cost? +
The Smith & Wesson M&P9 has an approximate unit cost of 550 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
