V-PVO (an abbreviation of Voyska Protivovozdushnoy Oborony, or Troops of National Air Defense) was a primary branch of the Soviet and later Russian Armed Forces dedicated specifically to the strategic defense of national airspace. Unlike the VVS (Voyenno-Vozdushnye Sily), which focused on frontline tactical support and air superiority over the battlefield, the V-PVO was tasked with protecting the interior of the USSR and Russia from strategic bombers, cruise missiles, and reconnaissance aircraft.
The service operated a vast network of early-warning radars, ground-based Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs), and specialized high-speed interceptors designed for long-range engagement, such as the MiG-25 “Foxbat” and the MiG-31 “Foxhound.” In 1998, the V-PVO was merged with the Russian Air Force to streamline command structures, but the specialized mission of national air defense remains a cornerstone of Russian military doctrine.