MOSCOW - RUSSIA will step up purchases of new weapons and acquire 50 new planes and an equal number of helicopters this year, junior defence minister Vladimir Popovkin said on Wednesday.

'From 2009 onwards, we will change the structure of spending on arms and defence material in favour of buying new models instead of repairing old systems,' the Interfax news agency quoted him as saying.

He said money had already been kept aside to buy 100 new planes and helicopters this year.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday announced a 'large-scale' rearmament and renewal of Russia's nuclear arsenal, accusing NATO of pushing ahead with expansion near Russian borders.

'From 2011, a large-scale rearmament of the army and navy will begin,' Mr Medvedev told a meeting of the country's top defence chiefs and called for a renewal of Russia's nuclear weapons arsenal.

'The primary task is to increase the combat readiness of our forces, first of all our strategic nuclear forces. They must be able to fulfil all tasks necessary to ensure Russia's security,' Mr Medvedev said. -- AFP