Tour de Force - Rocket hits stainless steel: US Air Force wants to shoot down Tesla Cybertrucks

The future will be electric—or simply stand still while an air-to-ground missile hurtles toward it. The US Air Force plans to acquire two Tesla Cybertrucks . Not because their futuristic design is so combat-ready—but to use the vehicles as static test objects during target practice. This information was unearthed by The War Zone .

The two trucks are part of a larger order for 33 target practice vehicles , all of which will be delivered gutted , non-driving, and without batteries . The purpose: to simulate test environments in which "potential enemy vehicles" are in the crosshairs. The Cybertruck's inclusion on this list speaks volumes—not about its military capability, but about its pop culture presence.

While Elon Musk likes to portray the Cybertruck as a revolutionary high-tech vehicle, with a stainless steel body and supposed bulletproof properties, the US military apparently sees something else: a good target.

The military doesn't need an 800-kilometer range, wrinkle-free geometry, or Tesla-like acceleration. Instead, other metrics count—like how well a vehicle can be destroyed by a Hellfire missile.

The choice of the Cybertruck is no coincidence. The Air Force wants to test realistic scenarios in which vehicles like this one – martial, accessible to civilians, conspicuous – could also appear in crisis zones. Whether by private mercenaries, paramilitary groups, or simply as a symbol of Western technology: the Cybertruck represents visibility. And that's precisely what makes it the perfect target. Ever since Ramzan Kadyrov, the dictatorial president of the Russian republic of Chechnya, appeared on CNN with a Cybertruck mounted with a machine gun, it's been clear that even less innocent car buyers are attracted to the martial appearance of the angular pickup truck. While the Toyota Hilux convinces paramilitary groups with its high reliability and off-road capability, the Cybertruck is likely to be attracted by its tank-like appearance. An appearance that so far hasn't lived up to its promises.

Tesla had always emphasized that the Cybertruck was made of ultra-hard cold-rolled stainless steel—the same alloy used in SpaceX rockets. And the windows were also armored. What sounds like a sales pitch was already proven absurd in 2019 during the legendary window demo, when two steel balls thrown at close range by Tesla chief designer Franz von Holzhausen shattered the supposedly "armored" windows.

Tesla's second favorite narrative—that the choice of materials makes the Cybertruck rust-free—also regularly gets thrown off track. Owners report surface rust, brown spots, and a metallic, drab appearance on the bare outer skin. Tesla claims this isn't rust, but merely "dirt." However, surface rust can also cause rust in the underlying stainless steel. Technically, caution is advised on this topic anyway: Not all versions of stainless steel are the same as non-rusting steel (NiRoSta)—there are stainless steels that can rust. And what about the Cybertruck's buoyancy, as promised by Elon Musk? Gluc gluc—it obviously doesn't have that, as a video from a marina shows .

Why the US military absolutely needs a Cybertruck for firing exercises is a bit puzzling under the circumstances mentioned. A mock-up made with simple steel plates might have sufficed. US media outlets are already mocking the military for simply procuring two dumpsters as replacement targets. But perhaps there's much more to it. What is the Cybertruck's radar signature from all imaginable distances and directions? How do the specialists best calibrate the target acquisition systems of their drones, fighter jets, and attack helicopters? Furthermore, the military may be seeking answers to questions that aren't accessible to the public.