Tesla's Cybertruck to be Used as Missile Targets by U.S. Air Force

The Unlikely Target: Tesla Cybertruck's New Role in USAF Training

It appears a peculiar dream of Elon Musk might be inching closer to reality, albeit in a manner few could have predicted. The U.S. Air Force is reportedly set to acquire Tesla Cybertrucks, not for their groundbreaking technology or futuristic appeal, but as targets for missile testing. Documentation reviewed by The War Zone and Electrek reveals that the USAF's White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico intends to procure 33 vehicles. While the request spans various sedans, pickups, SUVs, and trucks without brand specificity, the Cybertruck is explicitly mentioned, with at least two units slated for purchase.

From Apocalypse-Proof to Target Practice

The most astonishing aspect of this procurement is the intended use: these vehicles are planned to serve as targets for precision-guided munitions. The military's official explanation, as detailed in the documentation, states that these specific Tesla vehicles will be utilized for "training test launches." The rationale provided is that enemies might employ Cybertrucks in real combat scenarios, given their purported resilience against damage compared to conventional vehicles. The objective of these exercises is to "prepare units for operations by simulating scenarios as close to actual situations as possible." This is a stark contrast to Musk's previous pronouncements, where he lauded the Cybertruck as an "armored" vehicle built to "survive an apocalypse" and even suggested its potential military applications. The irony of this is palpable – a vehicle marketed for its extreme durability is now destined to be blown to smithereens.

High-Tech Munitions vs. Futuristic Pickup

These high-stakes tests will support the Stand Off Precision Guided Munitions (SOPGM) program, which encompasses a range of advanced air-to-ground ordnance designed for special operations forces. This includes various iterations of the formidable AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missile, the AGM-176 Griffin missile, the GBU-69/B small-diameter glide bomb, and the GBU-39B/B small-diameter bomb with laser guidance. The GBU-69/B, in particular, has been pictured during tests on an SUV, hinting at the kind of rigorous trials these Cybertrucks will undergo. A key requirement for the Cybertrucks in this context is that they don't need to be fully operational; they must, however, be capable of being towed, suggesting their structural integrity rather than their propulsion systems is the focus of interest.

Cybertruck's Sales Woes and an Unexpected Military Role

This unexpected military application comes at a time when the Cybertruck has not quite lived up to Tesla's ambitious production goals. Initial projections anticipated hundreds of thousands of units annually, but actual sales have reportedly hovered around a mere 10% of manufacturing capacity. Adding to the critique, a co-founder of Tesla, in a rather blunt assessment, stated that "the world needs affordable cars, not a Cybertruck that looks like a dumpster." The current development certainly paints a different picture of the Cybertruck's future, one that was likely far from the minds of both Tesla engineers and potential buyers, and a truly bizarre twist for a vehicle designed to withstand the end of days.