Beretta U.S.A. Corp. History Formed in 1977 to meet increased demand by U.S. consumers, Beretta U.S.A. Corp. is located in Accokeek, MD, just outside Washington, D.C. Beretta U.S.A. began manufacturing firearms in the United States in 1978. Beretta U.S.A. Corp. was awarded the contract to provide the U.S. Armed Forces with the Beretta Model 92F 9mm pistol (designated M9 by the military), as the military standard issue sidearm in 1985. Soon thereafter, the Accokeek plant expanded to 90,000 square feet and increased its work force to over 400 employees. Today, the plant is expanding again, by an additional 40,000 square feet, to accommodate the manufacture and assembly of Beretta long guns and to meet increased demands from the commercial, military and law enforcement markets. In the past two years, Beretta U.S.A. was awarded two follow-on military contracts: an $18.5 million contract to supply 45,098 M9 9mm pistols to the U.S. Navy and a $6.5 million contract to supply 16,500 M9s to the U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard. The M9s have proven their renowned reliability in several military operations, including Desert Storm in Kuwait, Uphold Democracy in Haiti, Restore Hope in Somalia, Just Cause in Panama, Urgent Fury in Grenada and Joint Endeavor in Bosnia. In addition to meeting the U.S. military requirements, the plant in Accokeek manufactures the Beretta Model 92F 9mm pistols, Model 96 .40 caliber pistols and the Beretta Model 3032 Tomcat, Model 21 Bobcat and Model 950BS Jetfire small caliber handguns for the commercial and law enforcement markets. Beretta U.S.A. Corp. supplies its high performance 9mm and .40 caliber pistols to officers in thousands of law enforcement agencies throughout North America, including the state agencies of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina, Maryland, Minnesota, Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Washington, Rhode Island, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. In the fall of 1996, Beretta U.S.A. was awarded a follow-on contract for 16,000 .40 caliber pistols by the Immigration & Naturalization Service. Along with the agency's original 16,000-pistol contract with Beretta in 1995, it represents the largest single purchase of pistols ever made by a federal law enforcement agency. Beretta U.S.A. Corp. not only manufactures pistols, but markets high-quality field and competition shotguns, rifles and military firearms produced by its parent company, Beretta Holding, S.p.A. of Gardone Val Trompia, Italy. Included in their line-up of shotguns are the ultra-reliable AL390 Mallard Series of semi-automatic shotguns, and the 686 Silver Essential, Beretta's entry level over/under shotgun. The new Beretta Mato bolt action rifle and the 470 Silver Hawk side-by-side shotgun represent Beretta's newest additions to the long gun line.