The U.S. Air Force plans to acquire two Tesla Cybertrucks for live-fire weapons testing, according to government contracting documents recently made public.
The documents show the Air Force Test Center wants the vehicles delivered to White Sands Missile Range, where they will serve in “target vehicle training flight test events.”
The Cybertrucks are part of a larger procurement of 33 vehicles for target training under the U.S. Special Operations Command’s Stand Off Precision Guided Munitions (SOPGM) program.
Other requested vehicles include sedans, SUVs, bongo trucks, and pickups, though their specific brands have not been disclosed.
In a sole-source justification, the Air Force explained that, unlike competitors using painted steel or aluminum, the Cybertruck’s unique unpainted stainless steel construction stands out. The Air Force also noted that its 48-volt electrical system provides superior power and efficiency, “a feature that rivals are only beginning to develop.”
“The enemy may transition to Tesla Cybertrucks as they have been found not to receive the normal extent of damage expected upon major impact,” the document states. “The intent of the training is to [prepare] the units for operations by simulating scenarios as closely as possible to the real world situations.”
The Cybertruck, launched in 2023, was marketed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk as “apocalypse proof.” Despite this claim, the vehicle has faced eight recalls and sluggish sales, with only 10,700 units sold so far in 2025, according to Cox Automotive.
