Russia will conduct more tests of new warheads for its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), later this year, Strategic Missile Forces commander Col General Nikolai Solovtsov said today.

"This year we will continue test and combat-training launches of new types of warheads for the Topol-M and Bulava sea-launched missile complexes," Solovtsov told reporters.

He said previously a second missile battalion, equipped with advanced Topol-M (SS-27) road-mobile ICBMs, will be put on combat duty before the end of the year and the deployment of silo-based Topol-M systems in the Saratov Region and road-mobile systems in the Ivanovo Region (central Russia) would be completed in 2010.

As of December 2006, the Strategic Missile Forces operated 44 silo-based and three mobile missile systems.

Solovtsov said the Topol-M system will be equipped with multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRV) in the next two-three years, adding that the new system would help penetrate missile defences more effectively.

His statement comes amid the growing tensions between Russia and the US on Washington’s plans to deploy elements of national missile shield in Europe.

Solovtsov stressed the Russian Strategic Missile Forces would factor in the new threats.

"If the US proceeds with missile defence plans, despite serious opposition from people in Europe, the Strategic Missile Forces will manage to take adequate measures to counter threats to Russia," he said.

Russia’s national defence programme envisions the deployment of Bulava-M sea-launched ballistic missiles on nuclear submarines.

The missiles are expected to become the mainstay of the Russian Navy's strategic nuclear forces in decades to come.

The Russian Armed Forces commissioned more than 30 new types of advanced weapon systems in the first half of 2007, including the submarine-launched R-29RM Sineva ballistic missiles, the S-400 Triumph air defence complex and the 120-mm Nona SM-1 towed mortar for Ground Forces.