The air defence battle is fought with four branches that work together as one system. Each gets its own in-depth part below with role, command and unit structure:
- Radio-Technical Troops (RTV) — the radar network: detection, identification and early warning. § 5.6
- Air-defence fighters — the interceptors, ground-controlled (GCI). § 5.8
- Anti-Aircraft Missile Troops (ZRV) — the SAM regiments and brigades: S-400, S-300, Buk, Pantsir. § 5.7
- Electronic Warfare Troops (REB) — jamming, deception and protection of the system. § 5.9
The first three are the classic PVO branches and sit under the AFADA air-defence divisions. The REB is formally an independent supporting arm, but indispensable in the air-defence battle. At strategic level the missile defence (PRO) is added — defence against ballistic missiles around Moscow (A-135/A-235, see § 5.4). Because sensors, fighters and missiles act as a whole under one command, an IADS (Integrated Air Defence System) emerges; how that command works is in § 5.5.
Where Western air forces win air superiority with aircraft, the VKS primarily denies the airspace with ground-based means. The fighter is a supplement to this ("gap filler"), not the main role. See § 6.2.