Putin urges Russian strategic, space forces to stay on high alert

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday urged the country's strategic nuclear forces and aerospace defense forces to be ready to act on immediate orders anytime they were given, the Kremlin said in a release.

"Strategic nuclear forces and aerospace defense forces play special role in guaranteeing our national security, maintaining international stability and preserving strategic parity," Putin said at a meeting on the development of armed forces in the Black Sea resort of Sochi where he was expected to hold a series of meetings on Russian military development for the rest of the week.

"They must be ready to implement the tasks assigned immediately, " he added.

Putin said Russia planned to put four missile regiments on combat duty this year, and that they would be equipped with the latest weapon systems capable to penetrate current and future missile defense systems.

He revealed that the Russian Army would receive two sets of Iskander-M tactical ballistic missile systems before the end of this year.

Proud of the modern armaments showcased in the high-profile V- Day parade, Putin said their tactical and technical characteristics were superior to foreign analogues, and ordered completion of all tests of those equipment as soon as possible and putting into serial production.

Russia held a large-scale military parade at the Red Square Saturday to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Great Patriotic War, Russia's term for World War II, with dozens of cutting-edge armaments being displayed, including the T-14 main battle tank, Kurganets-25 infantry combat vehicle and the land- based Yars intercontinental ballistic missile complex. Endite