The US Air Force Test Center (AFTC) announced on 6/8 that it is seeking to acquire 33 vehicles to serve as missile targets, including two Tesla Cybertrucks. The vehicles are not required to be operational but must be towable.
An AFTC document stated, "Research published on 13/2, based on an assessment of design, materials, impact resistance, and advanced technologies, indicates that the Cybertruck's design is distinct from other vehicles in its class,".
According to the AFTC, the Cybertruck uses a 48V power source and offers superior power and efficiency compared to its competitors. After searching the internet and consulting with the relevant industry, the AFTC reported, "no comparable vehicles" with similar features to the Cybertruck.
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A Cybertruck at a showroom in Buena Park, California, in December 2023. Photo: AP |
A Cybertruck at a showroom in Buena Park, California, in December 2023. Photo: AP
The AFTC explained that, "There are plans to use this specific Tesla-made vehicle as a target for testing. US adversaries may adopt the Cybertruck in the future due to its resistance to damage from high-impact collisions,".
The agency didn't specify manufacturers for the remaining 31 vehicles, which include sedans, pickups, SUVs, light trucks, and other types. These vehicles will be delivered to the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico to be used as targets in the US Special Operations Command's Standoff Precision Guided Munitions (SOPGM) program.
Weapons included in the SOPGM program include variants of the AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missile, the AGM-176 Griffin missile, the GBU-69/B Small Diameter Bomb, and laser-guided variants of the GBU-39/B bomb.
Joseph Trevithick, editor of the US military website War Zone, noted, "It's unclear why the US military believes its adversaries will soon be operating Cybertrucks. The primary targets of the SOPGM arsenal are non-state armed groups, particularly those that frequently use cars and trucks, in the Middle East, South Asia, Central Asia, and parts of Africa,".
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A Cybertruck with bullet holes in Fremont, California, in a photo released in October 2023. Photo: X/TeslaOownersSV |
A Cybertruck with bullet holes in Fremont, California, in a photo released in October 2023. Photo: X/TeslaOownersSV
An estimated 46,000 Cybertrucks have been sold. Tesla currently only sells the Cybertruck in North America, but some vehicles have been shipped to other parts of the world. In April, Tesla announced plans to sell directly in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar this year.
The Cybertruck's windows and body have demonstrated resistance to handgun fire, a feature heavily promoted during the vehicle's 2019 launch. Some companies offer armor upgrades and other features for the Cybertruck, targeting potential military, law enforcement, and private military company clients.
Nguyen Tien (According to AP, AFP, War Zone)
