Russia Starts Developing New Strategic Bomber
Russia has started to develop a new type of strategic bomber amid Russia-U.S. disputes on anti- missile system deployment in central Europe, the Itar-Tass news agency reported on Saturday.

The research work has been launched and the new generation of aircraft is expected to be put into service in 10 years, Itar-Tass said, quoting Deputy Long-Range Aviation Commander Anatoly Zhikharev as saying.

The report did not give further details of the new missile carrier.

"The bomber will be capable to take off from any airfield, to carry nuclear and highly accurate conventional weapons such as missiles and bombs and to overcome any anti-ballistic missiles defense systems," the Interfax quoted Zhikharev as saying.

Washington proposed in January installing parts of its anti- missile shield in central Europe, including some interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar system in the Czech Republic.

Washington said the missile defense system is not targeted at Russia, but the sensitive plans nevertheless have drawn sharp criticism from Moscow.