During the Cold War the VVS was divided into three main branches (equivalent to commands in Western air forces): Long Range Aviation ("Dal'naya Aviatsiya" – DA ), focused on long-range bombers; Frontal Aviation ("Frontovaya Aviatsiya" – FA), focused on battlefield air defence, close air support, and interdiction; and Military Transport Aviation ("Voenno-Transportnaya Aviatsiya" – VTA), which controlled all transport aircraft. The Soviet Air Defence Forces ("Voyska protivovozdushnoy oborony" or "Voyska PVO"), which focused on air defence and interceptor aircraft, was then a separate and distinct service within the Soviet military organisation.