Air Defense of Ground Troops (PVO Sukhoputnykh Voysk) http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/pvo-sv.

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MILITARY

Air Defense of Ground Troops (PVO

Sukhoputnykh Voysk)
Surface-to-Air Missiles Anti-Aircraft Artillery
The Ground Forces relinquished control of air defense for their field
SAM Radars 2S6M Tunguska formations in 1948 when the National Air Defense Forces -- later
Pantsyr-S1 renamed the Air Defense Forces -- became an independent armed
SA-3 GOA Strelets service. In 1958, however, Soviet air defense was decentralized
SA-4 GANEF again, and the Ground Forces acquired antiaircraft guns and formed
SA-6 GAINFUL tactical air defense units. In the 1960s, air defense became an
SA-7 GRAIL KS-12 integral combat arm of the Ground Forces. Since then, Air Defense
SA-8 GECKO KS-18 of Ground Forces (PVO Sukhoputnykh Voysk) has been
SA-9 GASKIN KS-19 independent from the Air Defense Forces, although coordination of
SA-11 GADFLY KS-30 their respective operations remains necessary.
SA-12 GLADIATOR M1939
SA-13 GOPHER S-60 Elements of the Air Defense of Ground Troops are integrated in
SA-14 GREMLIN ZPU-1 various other combat commands and have mobile anti-aircraft guns
SA-15 GAUNTLET ZPU-2 and surface-to-air missiles. Tactical air defense forces (Voyska PVO
SA-16 GIMLET ZPU-4 Sukhoputnykh voysk ) were a separate arm subordinate to Soviet
SA-17 GRIZZLY ZU-23 Ground Forces Headquarters. The anti-aircraft units belonging to the
SA-18 GROUSE ZSU-23-4 army made up the Army Air Defence Troops (PVO-SV) and were not
SA-19 GRISON ZSU-57 integrated into the national air defence system. The Army Air
SA-22 GREYHOUND Defence Troops were subordinate to the Military Districts and
SA-24 Grinch Groups of Forces in peacetime and to the Front and Army Staffs in
SA-23 GIANT wartime.
S-500 Samoderzhets
S-1000 A major reorganization of Soviet Air and Air Defence Forces took
place between 1978 and 1980, including Frontal Aviation,
Long-Range Aviation, interceptor aircraft of the National Air Defence (IA-PVO) and Ground Force Troops of the Anti-Aircraft
Defence (PVO Voysk). PVO Strany was reorganized in 1981 and its name was changed to Voyska PVO (Air Defence
Troops), but it maintained its status as an independent branch, and the main body of army air defence troops, including the
military schools, were annexed to it. Voyska PVO yielded responsibility for theater antiaircraft systems to Air Defense of
Ground Forces.

Since August 1980, this arm’s commander, Colonel-General of Artillery P. G. Levchenko, had been referenced in activities
associated exclusively with the Air Defense Forces component. His obituary revealed that he had, in fact, assumed a newly
created position as First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of PVO. In addition, sometime in early 1981 the name of the military
academy created in 1977 to provide advanced training to tactical air defense officers was changed from "Military Academy of
Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces" to "Military Academy of Troop Air Defense" (Voyennaya akademiya voyskovoy
PVO).

Air Defense of Ground Forces was equipped with a mix of antiaircraft artillery as well as surface-to-air missiles to defend
Ground Forces units against attacking enemy aircraft. During the 1970s, the Soviet military introduced five new
self-propelled air defense and radar systems into its force structure. In 1989 Air Defense of Ground Forces operated 5,000
surface-to-air missiles and 12,000 antiaircraft guns organized into brigades, regiments, and batteries. As of 1989, combined
arms and tank armies had air defense brigades equipped with high-altitude SA-4 surface-to-air missiles. Motorized rifle and
tank divisions had air defense regiments with the mobile SA-6 or SA-8 for medium- to low-level protection. Ground Forces
regiments had SA-9, SA-13, and ZSU-23-4 antiaircraft gun batteries. Motorized rifle and tank battalions had surface-to-air
missile platoons equipped with new low-altitude, shoulder-fired SA-16 and older SA-7 missiles. The SA-8, and SA-15 are
division-level short-range SAMs; the SA-6 is a division-level medium-range SAM; the SA-11 is an army-level medium-range
SAM; the SA-4 is an army- or army group-level medium-range SAM; the SA-12a and SA-12b are army group-level
medium-range SAMs.

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Air Defense of Ground Troops (PVO Sukhoputnykh Voysk) http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/pvo-sv.htm

The Soviets introduced the SA-3 into service in 1961. The SA-3 system is not mobile. It is movable, hut its displacement time
is considerable. Newer, more mobile systems with improved capabilities (for example, the SA-6 and SA-8) replaced it in its
original role as a low-altitude air defense weapon in support of maneuver elements. However, it continued in its role as a rear
area air defense weapon. The Soviets introduced a quadruple launcher in 1973 for this purpose.

A total of 27 SA-4 TELs were organic to a front/army SAM brigade. The brigade comprises three battalions with three
batteries each. Each battery has three twin launchers, one PAT HAND radar, and one loader vehicle. All are tracked. Besides
providing high-altitude air defense for an advancing army, the system's excellent mobility allows some batteries to support
the army's for-ward maneuver elements, filling gaps between low-altitude SA-6 or SA-8 batteries. Thus, three SA-4 batteries
might typically follow about 10 kilometers behind the army's foward forces, with the other batteries moving in a belt 25
kilometers behind the front lines. The SA-4 TEL is air-transportable in the An-22 transport aircraft. All are tracked. In the
1980s the SA-11 and SA-12 systems were replacing the SA-4 in nondivisional air defense units. The Soviets deployed the
SA-11 in army-level SAM brigades; they have initially deployed the SA-12 in front-level SAM brigades.

The MRD and TD SAM Regiment (SA-6) made up an important part of an extensive air defense envelope over the
battlefield. Although the SA-6 SAM regiment appears as standard at division level. However, many divisional SAM regiments
have the SA-8 as an alternative to the SA-6. The Soviets first displayed the SA-6ain Moscow in November 1967. The Soviet
Army placed it in service around 1970. Either the SA-6 or SA-8 had replaced S-60 AA guns in most divisional air defense
regiments. Anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) regiments equipped with the 57-mm towed antiaircraft gun S-60 still existed in some
divisions in rear areas.

Every MRB and airborne battalion has an organic air defense platoon in which nine SA-7 operators with gripstocks are
transported by the platoon's three BTRs, BMPs, or BMDs. A SAM section consisting of one vehicle and three SA-7
gripstocks normally attaches to each of the battalion's three MRCs. Similar air defense platoons are organic at battalion level
in air assault and airmobile assault units.

The Soviets introduced the SA-8a in 1974 and first publicly displayed it in 1975. The SA-8b variant was first seen in 1980.
Along with the SA-6, the SA-8 systems have replaced the S-60 AA gun in most division-level air defense regiments.

A platoon of four SA-9 vehicles is organic to the air defense battery of MRRs and TRs. The SA-9s are teamed with a platoon
of four ZSU-23-4s. The SA-9 also is organic to Soviet naval infantry regiments and brigades.

The SA-11/GADFLY is a low-to-medium altitude SAM. The SA-11 Gadfly' was developed in the early 1970s and entered
service in 1979 to replace the SA-4 'Ganef in Army level Brigades. The SA-11 TELAR is based on a tracked chassis also
used for the radar vehicles associated with the SA-11. Although SA-11 batteries (if deployed at division level) or battalions (if
deployed at army level) have longer-range surveillance and target acquisition radars, each TELAR, with its on-board
guidance and tracking radar, can operate independently for surveillance and target engagement.

The fully amphibious NBC-equipped SA-13 Gopher mobile SAM system with a range-onlrya dare nteredo perationasl ervicei
n 1977.I n the Soviet Army it had virtually replaced the far less capable SA-9 'Gaskin' BRDM-z system on a one-for-one
basis to improve the mobility of the anti-aircraft batterres in the Motorised Rifle and Tank Divisions. A platoon of four SA-13
TELARs is organic to the air defense battery of MRRs and TRs, where they are complemented by a platoon of four SP AA
guns. The SA-13 is also organic to Soviet naval infantry brigades.

The SA-12A mobile system provides air defense against all types of aerodynamic vehicles, including cruise missiles and
some tactical ballistic missiles . The SA-12A/GLADIATOR system is a replacement for the SA-4/GANEF in nondivisional
SAM units. Initial deployment was to front-level SAM brigades.

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Air Defense of Ground Troops (PVO Sukhoputnykh Voysk) http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/pvo-sv.htm

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