Zenitno Artilleriya (Anti-aircraft Artillery)

The anti-aircraft forces of the PVO evolved from the army air defense forces.  Initially their duties were the same as those of the Great Patriotic War - defending cities during aerial bombardments.  To this end they employed a wide variety of anti-aircraft guns such as the wartime 76mm and 85mm guns.  Later they would introduce the 100mm KS-19 and the 130mm KS-30.  These later systems would employ radar guidance.

When anti-aircraft missiles entered service the larger guns were phased out of service.  The focus of the anti-aircraft artillery troops changed.  They would use smaller guns (14.5mm, 23mm, and 57mm) that would move with the advancing troops to give them cover from low altitude air attack.  They would be under the administrative control of the PVO, but fall under the tactical control of the Army.

IA-PVO (Interceptor Aviation of the PVO)

Interceptor aircraft formed the mobile quick reaction component of the PVO.  They would be directed to their targets by ground based radar and either destroy or guide away the aircraft they encounter.  The first aircraft the PVO were equipped with were wartime planes like the Yak-9, La-9, and La-11.  Early jet aircraft like the MiG-15 joined and then replaced these planes by the Korean war.  

As capable as these aircraft were, they lacked all weather intercept capability and range.  These deficiencies would be remedied in the decade that followed, but until that time the IA-PVO would have to do their best with the MiG-17, MiG-19, and Su-9.

Zenitno Raketmye Voiska (Anti-aircraft Missile Troops)

The anti-aircraft missile forces were the newest branch of the Soviet air defense forces.  They took advantage of captured German rocket technology to make radar guided missiles.  These missile systems were large and difficult to move, but were much more effective than heavy artillery for defending fixed sites.  The SA-1 'Grail' was the first of these systems to enter service.  It was deployed around Moscow.  The SA-2 'Guideline' would follow.  This system was easily transported around the country and was widely deployed around sites of strategic interest across the Soviet Union.

Radioteknicheskie Voiska (Radio Technical Troops)

The radio technical troops were responsible for manning all of the surveillance radars across the Soviet Union.  They would attempt to identify aircraft that intruded into or near Soviet airspace, and guide interceptor aircraft to them.  This was not always an easy task as early radar monitoring stations were equipped with old lend-lease radar sets of wartime vintage.  These sets were not very sensitive or reliable, but over the next decade they were replaced by much better radar detection and fire control equipment.  They also manned all radar systems (like the Fan Song) associated with the anti-aircraft missile troops.