US Air Force Procures Tesla Cybertrucks for Missile Target Training

The U.S. Air Force, in conjunction with U.S. Special Operations Command, is procuring two Tesla Cybertrucks as part of a 33-vehicle order for missile target practice and battlefield training at White Sands Missile Range. These vehicles are selected due to their unique durability, including an unpainted stainless steel exoskeleton and advanced 48-volt electrical architecture, which make them more resistant to damage and representative of potential adversary vehicles. The Cybertrucks will be used to simulate realistic combat scenarios involving precision-guided munitions such as AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and GBU-69/B Small Glide Munitions, with all fluids and batteries removed to meet safety requirements. While the Cybertrucks do not need to be operational, they must be towable to replicate movement during testing. Experts see this procurement as part of a broader deepening relationship between the Pentagon and Big Tech firms like Elon Musk's ventures, highlighting an evolving military reliance on advanced private sector technologies. This initiative underscores the military's focus on preparing for future threats by training against the most advanced civilian vehicles that could be repurposed by adversaries.