Tesla Cybertruck finally joins US Air Force… as a missile target

In a development that seems pulled from a satirical script, Elon Musk is getting his wish for the Tesla Cybertruck to enter military service. Unfortunately, the unlucky truck will not be used to transport troops or navigate rugged battlefield terrain. Instead, the US Air Force purchased a couple of the unique electric trucks to blow them up.

According to recently revealed procurement documents, the US Air Force Test Center (AFTC) is in the process of buying two Tesla Cybertrucks. These electric cars are destined for the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, a giant facility known for testing advanced weapons systems.

The Cybertrucks are part of a larger order for 33 target vehicles, which also includes an assortment of generic sedans, SUVs, and other pickup trucks. The key difference is that while the Air Force did not specify a brand for any other vehicle, it explicitly requested two units of Tesla Cybertruck by name.

The official justification provided in the document is both straightforward and slightly amusing. The military believes that its adversaries could begin using Cybertrucks in conflict zones. The document notes that these specific electric cars have been "found not to receive the normal extent of damage expected upon major impact." To prepare for this possibility, the Air Force wants to test its precision-guided weapons against the truck's unconventional, stainless-steel exoskeleton. The goal is to ensure its munitions are effective against the Cybertruck by simulating "scenarios as closely as possible to the real world situations."

The idea of a global adversary adopting Cybertruck might seem far-fetched to some, but it has actually already happened. Last year, images and videos surfaced showing the leader of the Chechen Republic with his own fleet of Cybertrucks. There were claims that the modified electric trucks had been deployed in the war in Ukraine. This real-world example, limited as it might be, gives a degree of credibility to the US military's forward-thinking plan to test its capabilities against one of the most recognizable EVs on the road.

The sale itself is a strange and ironic turn for Tesla. Elon Musk has repeatedly marketed the Cybertruck as a vehicle tough enough for the apocalypse, boasting of its "bulletproof" exterior and directly pitching it to the military as a potential combat vehicle. Now, the truck's legendary toughness is the very reason it is being used as a high-tech bulls-eye.

For a vehicle that has struggled to meet its ambitious sales targets, any order is welcome. With production and sales falling painfully short of Musk's initial goal of 500,000 units per year, a government contract is a tiny but notable win. Some could argue that the US military's decision is a backhanded compliment to Tesla's engineering. The Cybertruck's radical design and robust materials have made it so distinct that the Air Force feels it requires special attention on the firing range.

It may not be the glorious military career Musk envisioned for his angular creation, but the Cybertruck has officially caught the Pentagon's attention. It just happens to be from the receiving end of a missile. Who knows? If it does well in the explosive tests, there might be a future for it. Or it'll be just a fiery end, somewhat fitting of the Cybertruck's overall sales performance.

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