Thousands of drivers look at the Tesla Cybertruck and think, Coolest vehicle ever. I want to own one. But countless trolls are happy to comment, That truck looks like a dumpster, and I wish I could blow it up. It turns out the U.S. Air Force actually wants to blow up not one, but two Tesla Cybertrucks. But it’s not out of rage — it’s because they’re worried about facing them on the battlefield. And they’re not crazy.

The U.S. Air Force periodically runs missile tests at the U.S. Army’s White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The War Zone website acquired the Air Force’s latest shopping list of 33 target vehicles. Most aren’t specific makes and models. It just includes vehicle classes such as SUVs or sedans to test specific missiles. But the list takes special interest in the Tesla Cybertruck.

“Its unpainted stainless steel exoskeleton sets it apart from competitors typically using painted steel or aluminum bodies.”

Will we see Cybertrucks used by militaries worldwide?

The assertion isn’t wrong. Instead of a traditional body-on-frame construction, the Cybertruck uses a hardened unibody construction. Its “exoskeleton” is a proprietary variant of 300-series stainless that Tesla’s advertising department claims was invented for SpaceX rockets.

Tesla has already proven itself an innovator in vehicle manufacturing processes. It’s only a matter of time before automakers in China and elsewhere imitate its unibody pickup truck. If the construction proves durable, it may even make its way to foreign military vehicles.

The Air Force adds, “In the operating theatre it is likely the type of vehicles used by the enemy may transition to Tesla Cybertrucks.” Again, this isn’t far-fetched. I wrote about a Chechen warlord who mounted a machine gun on his Cybertruck and gave it to Russia for the Ukraine invasion.

The Air Force isn’t planning to waste taxpayer dollars on a brand new Cybertruck. It often uses non-operational vehicles, pulling them on a trailer while hitting them with missiles to simulate the impact while they’re driving. Perhaps in the name of reducing spending, DOGE can dig up some extra Cybertruck exoskeletons.