Russia to spend big on weapons

"A little less than 5 trillion rubles are being assigned for a nine-year period. The question is what to spend it on," Interfax quoted Ivanov as telling a meeting of the government's military-industrial commission.

He added that for the first time in many years, the defence ministry was beginning "large-scale expenditure" on weapons and military hardware.

Russia has been concerned over Nato's eastward expansion and soaring global oil prices have brought Moscow a steady flow of petrodollars, allowing the Kremlin to bolster defence spending in recent years after a decade of the post-Soviet money crunch.

President Vladimir Putin vowed last month to ensure a strong military, amid increased tensions between Russia and the US, which has accused Moscow of backsliding on democracy and strong-arming its ex-Soviet neighbours.