The Russian military will upgrade its missiles in response to UN plans for weapons in space, a top Russian general reportedly said Monday.

Interfax news agency quoted Russia's Strategic Missile Forces chief, Colonel-General Nikolai Solovtsov, as saying that Russia's intercontinental ballistic missiles will be modernized to protect them from space-based components of the UN missile defense system.

The upgrade will make the missiles' warheads capable of flying "outside the range" of the space-based system, Solovtsov was quoted as saying.

He didn't elaborate, but Russian officials have previously boasted about prospective new warheads capable of making sharp maneuvers on their way to their target to dodge missile defenses.

Russia has criticized UN plans for space-based weapons, saying they could trigger a new arms race. Washington has resisted efforts by Russia and China to negotiate a global ban on weapons in space.

Reflecting Russia's suspicions about UN intentions, Solovtsov alleged yesterday that the UN is considering the scenario of a first nuclear strike that would destroy most Russian missiles. A few surviving Russian weapons launched in retaliation could then be destroyed by the UN missile defense system.

Solovtsov said the concept was unfeasible.

"The Americans will never be able to implement this scenario, because Russian strategic nuclear forces, including the Strategic Missile Forces, will be capable of delivering a strike of retribution under any course of developments," he said, according to Interfax.

(Agencies via China Daily December 2, 2008)