Page 13 - IAV Digital Magazine #624

iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine
Cybertrucks Wanted By Air Force As Missile Targets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3i_VtehCBU
The U.S. Air Force is looking to buy
two Tesla Cybertrucks for use as targets for preci- sion munitions during testing and training. The service says it needs these vehicles for this purpose specifically because of the prospect of unspecified adver- saries driving around in them in the future.
The Cybertrucks are among 33 target vehi- cles the Air Force Test Center (AFTC) is looking to acquire and have delivered to the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico, accord- ing to contracting documents recently posted online.
WSMR is run by the U.S. Army, but the Air Force has a signifi- cant presence there. There are no name- brand requirements for the other
sedans, bongo trucks, pickups, and SUVs, that are also on AFTC’s shopping list. The primary intended use of all of the target vehicles is in support
of U.S. Special Operations Command’s (SOCOM) Stand Off Precision Guided Munitions (SOPGM) program and related training. SOPGM cov- ers multiple special operations-specific air-launched preci- sion-guided muni- tions, including multi- ple variants of
the AGM-114 Hellfire, the AGM-176
Griffin missile,
the GBU-69/B Small Glide
Munition (SGM), and the GBU-39B/B Laser Small Diameter Bomb (LSDB).
The explicit require- ment for the Cybertrucks – which donotneedtobein running condition but do need to be able to be roll towed behind another vehicle – requires a formal sole-source justifica- tion, a redacted copy of which is among the documents that AFTC has shared online.
“On 13 February 2025, market research was con-
ducted to assess the competition for the Tesla Cybertruck by evaluating its design, materials, impact resistance, and inno- vative technologies. The study revealed that 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,” the justification docu- ment explains. “Additionally, its 48V electrical architecture provides superior power and efficiency, a feature that rivals are only beginning to develop. Extensive internet searches and industry outreach by [redacted] found no vehicles with features comparable to those of the Cybertruck.”
More importantly, “[redacted] intends to uses [sic] specific Tesla manufactured vehicles for target vehicle training flight test events. In the operating theatre it is
likely the type of vehi- cles used by the enemy may transition to Tesla Cyber trucks [sic] as they have been found not to receive the normal extent of damage expected upon major impact,” it adds. “Testing needs to mir- ror real world situa- tions. The intent of the training is to prep the units for opera- tions by simulating scenarios as closely as possible to the real world situations.”
The document does not elaborate on the “operating theatre” or “the enemy” in ques- tion, and TWZ has reached out to the Air Force for more infor- mation. Tesla effec- tively eliminated its public relations department years ago, but we have also reached out to its investor relations department for com- ment.
As of this spring, an estimated 46,000 Cybertrucks have been sold to date, though the exact number is unclear. Currently, Tesla only offers Cybertrucks for sale in North America, though examples have been exported elsewhere in the world. Tesla did announce in April that it was planning to start direct sales in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar before the
end of the year.
Without more context, it is hard to say what may have prompted the belief that U.S. adversaries might soon be driving Cybertrucks. It is worth noting that the primary targets for SOCOM’s SOPGM arsenal, at least as they are publicly known, have been terrorists and mili- tants, especially ones riding in cars and trucks, in the Middle East, South and Central Asia,
and parts of Africa.
The Cybertruck’s win- dows and side panels have been shown to be bullet-resistant, stopping subsonic pistol caliber rounds, something that was heavily touted when the vehicle was first unveiled in 2019. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has described the vehicle, which has a retail price starting at around $80,000, as being “apocalypse- proof” in the past. At the same time, the Cybertruck has been dogged by recalls, controversies, and criticism over its actu- al performance, fea- tures (or lack thereof), safety issues, build
quality, ownership terms of service, and more. There have been reports this
year of flagging sales.
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