The Minebea PM-9 Submachine Gun, known officially in the Japan Self-Defense Forces as the 9mm Machine Pistol or as the M9, is a Japanese-made machine pistol. Based on Israeli's IMI Mini-Uzi, the PM-9 has the same telescoping bolt in use from the Mini-Uzis, but it has a difference in terms of its appearance, operational use and handling.
It is being exclusively used in J.S.D.F service as its main submachine gun, with the exception of some of its special forces units. The 1st Airborne Brigade and the Western Army Infantry Regiment are the only special forces units in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force known to be armed with the PM-9 as the brigade's main submachine gun. The J.A.S.D.F uses the weapon for its soldiers when conducting base security.The PM-9, unlike its Israeli counterpart, has a few differences in terms of appearance with a foregrip mounted underneath the PM-9's barrel to aid in firing the weapon fully automatic with a flash suppressor placed. The weapon can also be modified to have a foldable stock, detachable suppressor and a mounted reflex sight though these modifications are most likely not used in any peacekeeping operations abroad since such activities does not involve Japanese soldiers in combat situations. The initial batches of PM-9s were first made in production with wooden pistol and foregrips before they eventually switched to use plastic grips on the current production PM-9s in J.S.D.F service.
