Soviet Air Defence Forces

Soviet Air Defence Forces
Войска ПВО СССР Voyska PVO SSSR
Founded	24 May 1918
Disbanded	14 February 1992
Country	Soviet Union
Part of	Soviet Armed Forces
Garrison/HQ	Moscow
Insignia
Roundel

The Soviet Air Defence Forces (Russian: войска ПВО, voyska protivovozdushnoy oborony, voyska PVO, V-PVO, lit. Anti-Air Defence Troops; and formerly protivovozdushnaya oborona strany, PVO strany, lit. Anti-Air Defence of the Country) was the air defence branch of the Soviet Armed Forces.

Formed in 1941, it continued being a service branch of the Russian Armed Forces after 1991 until it was merged into the Air Force in 1998. Unlike Western air defence forces, V-PVO was a branch of the military unto itself, separate from the Soviet Air Force (VVS) and Air Defence Troops of Ground Forces. During the Soviet period it was generally ranked third in importance of the Soviet services,^[1] behind the Strategic Rocket Forces and the Ground Forces.

Soviet Armed Forces
Components
General Staff Strategic Rocket Forces Red Army Soviet Army Air Defence Forces Air Forces Navy
Ranks of the Soviet Military
Military ranks of the Soviet Union
History of the Soviet Military
Military history of the Soviet Union History of Russian military ranks
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