The HK45 Series is one of Heckler & Koch’s most up-to-date pistol lines and is available as both a full-size and compact model. The HK45 and HK45 Compact were developed as product improvements of the highly-regarded and ultra-reliable HK USP45 and USP45 Compact family of pistols that were introduced in the 1990s.

Many user-inspired enhancements found on the HK45 and HK45 Compact are also present on several recent Heckler & Koch semiautomatic pistols, including the P30, P30L, P2000, and P2000 SK. These features include changeable backstraps, improved Picatinny MIL-STD-1913 accessory rails, better ergonomics, and more ambidextrous controls.

The HK45 and HK45 Compact were originally developed as candidates for the Joint Combat Pistol (JCP) and Combat Pistol (CP) programs administered by the U.S. military in their search for a new service handgun.