BOTH the 92FS and the P226 met the terms of the tests.
Beretta came in later with a much lower quote for the pistols, parts and services.
SIG (and S&W) objected, but the choice was upheld.
The Italian airbase rumor was around from the very start, but I don’t know if anybody has ever been able to come close to confirming it.
Air base AND F-16 purchases, which were “held up” while the grand deal was hammered out.
There were two parts of the pistol trials, durability/reliability tests (rounds fired, freezing, mud etc) and ergonomic/usability trials. My friend was involved in the latter as an instructor, but was aware of the results of the former.
In his trials, recruits who were non-shooters were trained on all of the pistols. According to my friend, who was there, who was an integral part of the tests, the SIG won HANDS DOWN. The Berretta “passed” also, but won the contract in a trade involving base rights and the F-16s.
Now, if you had a good friend who was RIGHT THERE during the entire trial and test phase, maybe ask him what he thinks.
As we all know, “official reports” are usually “massaged” to line up with the political decisions. But from the POV of an instructor who was RIGHT THERE, hands on all the way, it’s what I said.