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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Russia to upgrade nuclear systems | Russia to upgrade nuclear systems |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has announced plans to build a "guaranteed nuclear deterrent system", to be in place by 2020. | Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has announced plans to build a "guaranteed nuclear deterrent system", to be in place by 2020. |
| He said he wanted military chiefs to submit plans by December. | He said he wanted military chiefs to submit plans by December. |
| He called for a programme to build new nuclear submarines as well as "a system of aerospace defence". | He called for a programme to build new nuclear submarines as well as "a system of aerospace defence". |
| The announcement comes just weeks after Russia accused the US of starting a new arms race by siting part of its missile defence shield in Poland. | |
| "We must guarantee nuclear deterrence under various political and military conditions by 2020," Mr Medvedev told military commanders. | "We must guarantee nuclear deterrence under various political and military conditions by 2020," Mr Medvedev told military commanders. |
| He said it was necessary to build "new types of armaments" and to "achieve dominance in airspace", according to quotes carried by the Itar-Tass news agency. | |
| Q&A: US missile defenceGuide to planned US missile shield | Q&A: US missile defenceGuide to planned US missile shield |
| "We plan to start serial production of warships, primarily nuclear-powered submarines carrying cruise missiles and multifunctional submarines," Mr Medvedev said. | "We plan to start serial production of warships, primarily nuclear-powered submarines carrying cruise missiles and multifunctional submarines," Mr Medvedev said. |
| "We will develop an aerospace defence system, as well," he added. | "We will develop an aerospace defence system, as well," he added. |
| Russia's move would not change the balance of power, said US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. | |
| She told Reuters: "The balance of power in terms of nuclear deterrence is not going to be affected by those measures." | |
| She said the US nuclear deterrent was "capable" and "robust". | |
| Moscow has repeatedly criticised the US for going ahead with plans for a missile defence shield, using rockets based in Poland and radar in the Czech Republic, saying it destabilises the strategic balance and builds "a ring of steel" around Russia. | Moscow has repeatedly criticised the US for going ahead with plans for a missile defence shield, using rockets based in Poland and radar in the Czech Republic, saying it destabilises the strategic balance and builds "a ring of steel" around Russia. |
| Russia warned it would be "forced to react". | Russia warned it would be "forced to react". |
| This, it seems, is Russia is showing its own determination to bolster its nuclear deterrent, says the BBC's defence correspondent, Caroline Wyatt. |