US Air Force to blow up Tesla Cybertrucks in missile tests amid fears enemies could use them

[midian182]

WTF?! The US Air Force wants two Tesla Cybertrucks. The plan isn't to use them for transportation purposes, though; the EVs will be used for target practice. According to official documents, the trucks are a lot tougher than normal vehicles, meaning enemies are more likely to buy them – so the USAF wants to practice blowing them up.

Federal contracting documents posted online by the US Air Force Material Command show that the military branch is looking for a supplier that can provide 33 towable target vehicles. They will be sent to White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico to support US Special Operations Command (SOCOM).

Another document shows that the Air Force wants two of these vehicles to be Tesla Cybertrucks. It explains that the enemy may transition to the EVs as they "have been found not to receive the normal extent of damage upon major impact," presumably compared to the likes of Toyota Tacomas or Ford F-150s.

TWZ writes that the target vehicles will be used to support SOCOM's Stand Off Precision Guided Munitions (SOPGM) program and training. This covers several air-launched precision-guided munitions, so the Air Force is going to blow up the Cybertrucks and other vehicles by firing bombs and missiles at them, basically.

The Cybertrucks don't need to be in working condition – as long as they are able to be towed behind another vehicle, they'll suffice.

The document justifies the inclusion of Tesla's EVs by highlighting market research that concluded the Cybertruck's aggressively angular and futuristic design, paired with its unpainted stainless steel exoskeleton, sets it apart from competitors typically using painted steel or aluminum bodies. It also mentioned that the 48V electrical architecture provides superior power and efficiency, "a feature that rivals are only beginning to develop."

One of the many claims that Elon Musk made about the "apocalypse-proof" Cybertruck is that it's bulletproof – the panels, not the windows. In March last year, YouTube channel JerryRigEverything, famed for the torture tests it carries out on phones, put this to the test by shooting the vehicle with a variety of weapons, ranging from a 9mm Glock 19 to a .50 cal rifle.

It was found that lower-velocity pistols struggled to do any significant damage to the truck, while larger-caliber rounds shredded through the doors and interior panels. One imagines it won't stand up well to being hit with a Hellfire missile.

According to recent data, Tesla sold just 4,306 Cybertrucks in Q2 2025, marking a 50.8% decrease compared to the 8,755 vehicles that were sold during the same period in 2024. The company recently began accepting trade-ins for the vehicle, which were showing depreciation rates as bad as 34 percent after one year and 6,000 miles.

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US Air Force to blow up Tesla Cybertrucks in missile tests amid fears enemies could use them

 

[Vulcanproject]

Tougher than normal vehicles? Is that why when you tow anything the entire rear end casting breaks apart and Tesla use glue to stick it back together? Admittedly industrial strength glue but still. Just make the entire truck out of the glue then.

No civilian vehicle is surviving a light anti armor weapon. Seems like a typical armed forces "we better spend the money we have or else we won't get more next year" type of project.

 

[AlexIL]

Advertising on another level. Musk is a genius salesman. To advertise a car nobody wants to buy through USAF I have to admit that's new word in marketing business.

 

[Megalomaniac]

The Cybertruck puts out a lower heat signature than a standard ICE vehicle so they will want to test their weapons against it. As for the bulletproofing - It's absolutely not. Small caliber handguns get stopped by the body, but the windows are absolutely going to be penetrated with ease. Rifle calibers pierce the car with ease. Anti-Material rifles against a Cybertruck is like a white-hot knife through butter.

Looks like Elon will be selling more of these monstrosities afterall.

 

[Rudyduu]

This article shouldn't have been written. The gap in capability between an actual military vehicle and the Cybertruck is massive.

In order of usefulness for military use: Military vehicle>truck>offroad all-wheel drive car>offroad motorcycle>off road bicycle>offroad boots>Cybertruck.

The Cybertruck is only slightly more bullet resistant than a regular car which isn't much. The standard US military issue rifle can defeat it so who cares what a missile would do to it? It's a terrible vehicle for military use for many reasons but mainly logistics. Why bring fuel to generators when you could just bring fuel to vehicles?

We could weaken our enemies by giving them a fleet of Cybertrucks.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Guess the military is worried Tesla is going to go dump these in some third world hellhole where they will be co-opted by militias and "freedom fighters" instead of having them take up valuable warehouse space in actual markets.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

Presumably a normally armored military vehicle would be even tougher than a slightly tougher than Toyota vehicle.

But the US military does enjoy bullying the small armies they were supporting the previous year...

 

[axiomatic13]

LOL this is so 'effing dumb.

 

[Che Cazzo]

So, the geniuses at the Pentagon really think potential enemies are a bunch of unenlightened dimwits - who would buy such clunkers for tactical warfare!! Just like certain US citizens who throw good money at those laughable junkyard-worthy carp...just to make a political statement!!

The whole thing smells like a stinky and obvious appeasement for Mr. Turnip's ex-boy friend.

 

[wiyosaya]

Trump just wants to piss off fElon.

 

[captaincranky]

Musk should donate them to Hamas. After all, I'm practically certain the Gaza strip has a Supercharger station every quarter mile or so, er, doesn't it?

Meanwhile back at the advanced weapons development lab, a bowling ball gun shouldn't be too hard to come up with.

Guess the military is worried Tesla is going to go dump these in some third world hellhole where they will be co-opted by militias and "freedom fighters" instead of having them take up valuable warehouse space in actual markets.

Not to mention providing opportunities for Tesla dealerships in oil rich countries throughout the middle east.

Presantamos the century old Browning M2 .50 caliber heavy machine gun, versus what I think is an old Pontiac. Would a Cybertruck fare much better? Frankly, I doubt it.
If you don't want to watch the whole video, the car gets "blowed up real good", starting @ 7:35.

 

[Axeia]

An Advertisement for the cyber truck? I though Elon and Trump weren't besties anymore.
If it's slightly tougher than an aluminium car then what is stopping these supposed adversaries from just getting a car and welding some steel sheets to it? Cheaper and customisable for increased effectiveness... And they can listen to the A-team theme song whilst they do it.

Extremely impractical and unlikely so I smell ulterior motives

 

[nnguy2]

So, the geniuses at the Pentagon really think potential enemies are a bunch of unenlightened dimwits - who would buy such clunkers for tactical warfare!! Just like certain US citizens who throw good money at those laughable junkyard-worthy carp...just to make a political statement!!

The whole thing smells like a stinky and obvious appeasement for Mr. Turnip's ex-boy friend.

Whiskey Pete Hesgeth is in charge at the Pentagon. Fully explains this one.

 

[toooooot]

"hich were showing depreciation rates as bad as 34 percent after one year and 6,000 miles"

IS this not fairly close to the typical EV rate?

 

[Gravitytr1]

Unless some rich state that has now money than brains like Israel (only one I can think of who would do such a thing) is going to start ripping themselves off with cyber trucks, this seems like another scam by the government to use our taxes to fund the rich.

No guerilla outfit fighting for their lives with stolen or second hand equipment will look even once at a cyber truck. Especially since you can't repair or mod it yourself. That's why they use older vehicles. More dependable, higher quality and no digital DRM or gps.