"In a long historical perspective, nuclear parity will be preserved not only with the United States but also with the other countries with nuclear arms," he was quoted as saying.

"I have no doubt about that."

He said he was not referring to the "numbers of cluster warheads but the technological potential -- the capacity of cluster warheads for extensive maneuvering, strategic range and high precision".

Ivanov also said new long-range, nuclear-capable cruise missiles would be purchased for the country's air force next year. The new missiles had a range of more than 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles).

He was speaking after attending a test of the new Topol-M mobile intercontinental missile system at the Plesetsk launch pad in northern Russia.

"Today's test brought to completion tests of the Topol-M system," he said, adding that the weapons had been made more accurate and faster to fire.

Moscow has said the new missiles would be in service by January 2006 and, with a range of 10,000 kilometres, would be able to penetrate anti-missile defences.

Defence officials have said Russian President Vladimir Putin was referring to the Topol-M earlier this month when he claimed Russia was developing weapons systems that "will be different from what anyone else has".

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