This is the second volume on the Soviet air defense force, covering the years of 1961 until the end of the Soviet Union in 1991. Defending the nation was of paramount importance due to the almost constant reconnaissance that took place around the periphery of the nation by NATO and US air forces.

It was a constant game of back and forth with each side developing improved capabilities which the other countered. Initially, the Soviets lacked the electronic systems that were needed to provide the sort of coverage needed. They also lacked missiles capable of reaching the altitudes required, though the destruction of Gary Powers' U-2 showed that this capability was met, at least when it comes to slow moving targets. Later, these weapons proved to be ineffective against the significantly faster SR-71. However, it was the increasing capabilities of satellites that made manned overflights moot and these platforms stayed at the periphery, using their various visual and electronic sensors to gather data on Soviet systems.

With the increase in electronic capabilities came an improvement in interceptors and the missiles that they carried. The Cold War is full of instances when these aircraft were successful in shooting down civilian airliners that strayed into Soviet space, usually with a significant loss of life, though not always. A fair amount of the book is dedicated to these and other air intercept missions. One area of which I was unaware was the use of aerostats or balloons sent over Soviet territory. Apparently balloon missions are just from the Chinese, but were a fairly major portion of NATO reconnaissance. It is not surprising that many Soviet pilots were successful in shooting these down, though a fair number also got away unscathed.

The author has done a superlative job of telling the story of Soviet air defense during this period of time. His research turned up pilot reports and a fair amount of space includes these interesting stories. All of the improvements in aircraft, missile, and electronic  systems is also covered along with some great photos. Included are short biographies of the head of the PVO along with several pages of tables of air to air victories from 1945-1991. A book that is most highly recommended.

July 2023

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