INTERVIEW: This is SIG SAUER

SIG SAUER is a traditional name. In addition to great sports equipment, the company, based in the northern German town of Eckernförde, also has a growing government branch. Here, weapons for police and military are manufactured in the best quality. The MPX, MCX, own optical solutions, and the P320 service pistol are increasingly seen in domestic agencies. We spoke with SIG SAUER CEO Franz von Stauffenberg about the company and its products. They are featured in the images here with shots of the US brand VIKTOS (available in Germany at S4 Supplies).

SPARTANAT: SIG has recently succeeded with law enforcement in Germany. What makes SIG SAUER firearms so interesting for the police?

Small but powerful: SIG MPX with Red Dot from SIG.

Franz von Stauffenberg: SIG SAUER can offer the user a wide portfolio consisting of the following product groups:

• Pistols
• Submachine guns
• MDW/Assault rifles
• DMR rifles
• Suppressors
• Optics
• Ammunition
• Training systems
• Training
• Accessories

In addition to the products, we also have a government team composed of former official users and experts, so that we can quickly meet the customers' needs in line with the state of the art.

At the Eckernförde location, we can offer tailor-made solutions and also coordinate and test them with the customers. This approach has proven very successful in recent months, and we are pleased to be able to win new customers for the latest models P320 and MCX alongside existing customers. You can find an insight into our government portfolio at: www.sigsauer-le.com SPARTANAT: With the P320, SIG SAUER has achieved great success in the U.S., where it was selected as the new official pistol for the U.S. Army. At the same time, there were security discussions. What is the perspective for the P320 in Europe?

Franz von Stauffenberg: The military version of the P320 has emerged in the U.S. after tough tests against several well-known competitors. Among them, all safety aspects were also examined and found to be good. For our German government customers, we offer the P320 TR (Technical Directive of the Police), which has been certified by the Ulm Proof House and where all drop tests were also performed.

The P320s offered by SIG SAUER Germany all have a "Heavy Duty Upgrade," which meets the highest safety standards.

The P320 is constantly being further developed and adapted for armed forces. The P320 is so modular that I assess the prospects for the civilian and government markets as very good.

Sharp assault rifle: SIG MCX with Romeo4 Micro Red Dot.

SPARTANAT: The company has also participated in the tenders for the next assault rifles of the KSK and then the Bundeswehr, but ultimately withdrew the application for both. Why did SIG SAUER step back?

Franz von Stauffenberg: We consciously withdrew from the BW tender for the assault rifle, or rather had to withdraw, because exclusion criteria were used that we could not avoid. These criteria had nothing to do with the performance of our products or the financial situation of the SIG SAUER Group.

Furthermore, we did not get access to certain types of ammunition in the time frame and scope we needed to adapt our product to the ammunition in use. This decision was not easy for us, but we are confident that we will continue to be considered in the future. We are now looking to the future and positioning ourselves accordingly.

Modern classic: SIG P226 with mounted SIG Romeo 1 Red Dot.

SPARTANAT: For SIG SAUER, Eckernförde is a traditional location. At the same time, it is technically equipped and upgraded here. What are the company's goals in the German and European areas?

Franz von Stauffenberg: We want to continue to grow healthily with our civilian and government products, which we have succeeded in.

A new focus will remain to be useful as a system house for government agencies, so that the entire system of service weapon (weapon, optic, accessory, ammunition) can be obtained from one manufacturer. This not only has price advantages for the customer, but it also means that there is only one point of contact for the procurer. Achieving the goals in implementation is harder than in planning, but we will also master this challenge.

For next and far: SIG P320 pistol in the rig, SIG Romeo 7 Red Dot on the rifle.

SPARTANAT: By the way, talking about SIG SAUER, one must actually talk about two companies, which many overlook. What can SIG Germany do differently from the international, U.S.-based company? And what is the connection?

Franz von Stauffenberg: There are several SIG SAUER companies that manufacture firearms: SIG SAUER Inc. (USA), SIG SAUER GmbH (GE), and Swiss San (CH). All three companies have a German parent company, which is family-owned and managed from Germany. The product groups differ significantly from each other, but the MCX and P320 are manufactured in both the USA and Germany. There are certainly synergies.

The German government market is not easy to compare with the U.S. market, as the requirements in Germany are very specific. We address these requests in Eckernförde and take them into account. An example is the TR requirements of the police, which provide for tests that no other country demands for the police.

SPARTANAT: SIG is more than just service weapons for the police and military. What role do sport weapons play today for the Eckernförde plant?

Franz von Stauffenberg: In addition to service weapons, sports weapons are of the utmost importance to SIG SAUER. Shooting sports have gained tremendous popularity in Europe in recent years. IPSC shooting is very popular in Germany and its neighboring countries, and we also see significant growth in PPC shooting. Our sporty models are appreciated worldwide for their quality and reliability and have a huge impact on the success of SIG SAUER.

FRANZ VON STAUFFENBERG, born in 1976, is CEO of SIG SAUER GmbH and comes from a family with deep roots in the military and politics. He is a paratrooper, reserve lieutenant colonel, and ISTC Certified Military Advisor, bringing operational experience from SFOR and ISAF. Several years of experience in German defense companies in responsible positions at home and abroad.

SIG SAUER on the internet: sigsauer-le.com

SIG SAUER Inc. on Instagram: www.instagram.com/sigsauerinc

Short and powerful: SIG Romeo 3 Red Dot on SIG MPX.