Born at the height of the Cold War to defeat columns of Soviet armored vehicles, the A10 proved defenseless against modern antiaircraft systems. According to American experts, the Bearded Man cannot even get close to tanks and BMPs under the cover of Russian antiaircraft systems TorM2/M3, BukM2, 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 longrange means to disable NATO's operational airfields in Europe.