Last August, a Russian warlord posted a video on Telegram showing a pair of cybertrucks patrolling the roads of Chechnya, apparently armed with heavy machine guns. Putting aside the unanswerable question of how the vehicle was obtained, Wired thought it was worth investigating whether the Cybertruck actually makes sense as a “technical”, a term referring to modified civilian vehicles used by the military and military.
What did the outlet find? Well, it’s complicated. One expert pointed out that the Cybertruck’s stainless steel construction can take some abuse, making it fast, quiet, and conducive to stealth operations. A second expert explained that trucks’ high reliance on software could be potentially disastrous. They are also incredibly heavy, making maneuverability and traction difficult in certain terrains. (Note that it doesn’t seem to work very well in sand.)
Wired’s first expert said: “I like that (the Cybertruck) is safe in a crash and can withstand bullets. But if the control arm breaks and you can’t get parts for it, it’s pretty useless.”
