MOSCOW, Sept. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- The Russian army is to be equipped with new, hypersonic strategic missile systems, President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday.

    "We are developing and will provide the army with new high-precision strategic missile systems that are unique and unlikely to appear earlier in any other country," Putin said during a nationally televised live call-in show.

    The Russian president described the new missile systems as "hypersonic and capable of changing course and height during flight," saying the new missiles will be invulnerable to the missile defense systems being developed in some of Russia's partner countries.

    "We will soon begin testing new modernized missiles that can be used in both sea and land operations. We will start to buy new ballistic missiles, including mobile systems. We will continue to develop high-precision, long-range weapons," Putin said.

    Up to 5 billion US dollars worth of Russian arms were exported in 2004, he said.

    Putin said he was satisfied with the combat readiness of the strategic air force.

    "Air power will play a special role in possible future conflicts ... but we know in the modern world they are taking place. Unfortunately, until recently we didn't pay sufficient attention to this sphere of activity," Putin said.

    Russia also has plans to build new and more advanced aircraft, he said. Enditem