"We have enough evidence to assume that it will be a unique weapons system that does not have analogues in other countries," Mr. Ivanov underlined.
Mr. Ivanov refused, though, to disclose technical specifications of the new missile system.
He said that Russia had been actively conducting modernization of its nuclear triad "focusing on the quality of weapons rather than its numbers."
"Russia does not need a large amount of missiles that the Soviet Union used to have. We do not intend to threaten anybody, but Russia will continue to remain a strong nuclear power," the Russian defense minister stressed.
Answering a question about Russia's export controls over weapons of mass destruction (WMD), the minister underlined that there was a threat of WMD proliferation near Russian borders. That is why "Russia is more concerned about this problem than any other country," Mr. Ivanov said.
Commenting on the statement of Mr. Beresovsky saying that Chechen terrorists possess a small-yield nuclear device, the minister stated, "The myths that Russia poorly guards its nuclear weapons and their components are spread with a certain political goal in mind. Berezovsky's statement belongs to that category, I believe."
Mr. Ivanov emphasized that nuclear weapons and their components, enriched uranium and plutonium, were well guarded in Russia. "Statements indicating the contrary are myths," Mr. Ivanov stressed.
