"We know for sure we can manage the development of such rockets. No defense, protection against them is in existence", he told journalists on Tuesday.
Mr. Ivanov stressed that the basically new nuclear weapons in development in Russia are not aimed against concrete countries.
He also said that the holding of a Russian-German antiterrorist exercise in 2005 with the involvement of airborne troops is a decided matter.
"It only has to be finally coordinated with the German side", he added.
The Russian defense minister also said that a naval rescue-at-sea exercise is planned to be held with Germany in 2005.
He said that over the last two to three years Russia has had about 100 exercises with countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
At the same time, Russia is not planning to have joint military maneuvers with small members of NATO in the near future, Mr. Ivanov remarked.
On March 2 he will fly to Berlin with a working visit and meet with the FRG Defense Minister Peter Struck.
