Born at the height of the Cold War to defeat columns of Soviet armored vehicles, the A-10 proved defenseless against modern anti-aircraft systems. According to American experts, the Bearded Man cannot even get close to tanks and BMPs under the cover of Russian anti-aircraft systems Tor-M2/M3, Buk-M2, and Tunguska. It is clearly visible on their radars and will be shot down at the range limit of these systems before it can use its weapons. So, there is an opinion that American attack aircraft will not be able to take to the air at all, as Russia has long-range means to disable NATO's operational airfields in Europe.