(VOVworld) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged to add more than 40 new intercontinental ballistic missiles to Russia's nuclear arsenal in 2015. The Russian president made the announcement during his opening address at the Army-2015 Expo, an international military forum near Moscow, following a Russian defence official’s remark that NATO is inciting an arms race.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, speaks at the opening of the International Military-Technical Forum ARMY-2015 in the military-patriotic recreation park Patriot in Kubinka, Moscow Region. (RIA Novosti/Alexander Vilf)

Mr Putin stressed that more than 40 new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are able to overcome even the most technically advanced anti-missile defence systems". Mr Putin promised generals an array of other new weapons - including the advanced Armata tanks that were shown off at a Red Square parade last month. Putin has also said that Russia will soon start testing new long-range radar systems, which are to "monitor the western strategic direction."