Alwaght-Russia plans to
modernize its military by equipping its arsenal with more than 50
intercontinental ballistic missiles to ensure military superiority over the
West, a top Russian general says according to Press TV.
"Support for our strategic nuclear forces to ensure their high
military capability combined with ... growth of the military potential of the
general forces will assure that (the United States and NATO) do not gain
military superiority over our country," Russia’s Chief of Armed Forces
General Staff Valery Gerasimov said on Friday.
He further said the Russian military would receive the new
intercontinental nuclear missiles (ICBMs) later this year.
Replacing Satan
The deputy defense minister added
that in 2015 Russia would begin testing its new 100-ton silo-based heavy
ballistic missile Sarmat, the successor to the SS-18 Satan missile, also known
as R-36M.
The new heavy thermonuclear ICBM is estimated to be delivered to
Russian troops around 2020.
Also on Friday, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said the
country plans to modernize a large part of its military hardware by the end of
the decade.
"We plan to fulfill the government armament program and reach
by 2020 the intended quantities of modern weapons systems."
Shoigu also repeated President Vladimir Putin’s policy of refusing
to involve in an arms race, while maintaining Russia’s defensive capacity, RT
reported.
US Anti-missile Shield
Gerasimov noted that the development
of strategic nuclear forces is Russia’s top priority, adding that the country
will battle US- and NATO-led missile defense system by positioning weapons
capable of penetrating the shield.
President Putin has said on several occasions that Moscow must
modernize its military arsenal in the face of its adversaries, especially due
to the anti-missile shield the US is building in Europe.
Russia has repeatedly objected the deployment of the defense
facilities near its borders, saying Moscow considers them as a threat to its
national security.
New Forms of Aggression
Gerasimov also stated that Western
countries are currently utilizing any possible means to damage Russia.
"Western countries are actively using new forms of aggression,
combining military as well as non-military means. Political, economic and
information methods are also being used."
