Moscow to respond to U.S. anti-missile deployment, new sanctions against Russia

Russia is capable of responding strongly to U.S. anti-missile defense plans as well as the new sanctions imposed on Moscow over the Ukraine crisis, the Defense Ministry said Friday.

"We decided on how to respond," the ministry said, adding that the U.S. "won't find it funny" and will soon realize the pointlessness to deploy anti-missile shield.

According to a representative of the ministry, Russia's response will be based on advanced technological solutions which will allow the army to bypass any anti-missile umbrella.

Russia has been working on the supersonic aircraft classified as "Object 4240" with a capability to render U.S. anti-missile systems redundant, Interfax news agency quoted an unnamed representative as saying.

"That will be a guaranteed solution of neutralizing any prospective anti-missile defense system," the ministry said.

Moscow has been gravely concerned about NATO's intention to deploy heavy weapons in Eastern Europe and the Baltic countries. The Kremlin has warned to take appropriate responses to any possible military build-up near Russian borders.

The official added that the condition and serviceability of Russian army's weaponry increased dramatically in the past years to the current 98 percent.

"The share of modern and advanced weaponry in some categories of (Russian) troops currently amounts to 62 percent," he said.

Amid possible NATO deployment near Russian borders, President Vladimir Putin revealed in June that Russia's armed forces will be equipped with at least 70 percent of modern armament by 2020.

The ministry official on Friday noted in particular that the Russian Air Forces is facing a historically unprecedented task of improving and modernizing 80 percent of its aircraft, including helicopters and related equipment.

Meanwhile, he said that the Russian defense industry is carrying out quite successful measures to get rid of Ukrainian spare parts, as 53 percent of the defense equipment will be produced in Russia by the end of 2015.

The final goal of the substitute plan is to turn over 67 percent of all the ready-made military hardware from Ukraine- imported to Russia-made, including aircraft and ships engines.

"Defense-related equipment must be maximally substitute to safeguard ourselves from any sanctions and restrictions," the representative said.

Also on Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in an online statement that the expansion of the U.S. sanction list is destroying bilateral relations and would lead to the escalation of confrontation.

"Certainly such course will not be left without Russia's response," the statement said.

On Thursday, the U.S. included about two dozen entities and more than 10 individuals in the existing sanction list against Russia over its alleged intervention in the Ukraine crisis. Endite