MOSCOW - MOSCOW is ready to abandon plans for a wholesale renewal of its nuclear missile arsenal if Washington stops deployment of a controversial missile shield, a top Russian general said on Friday.

'If the Americans give up their plans to deploy the third position area and other elements of strategic missile defence, then undoubtedly we will respond in kind,' said Nikolai Solovtsov, commander of Russia's strategic missile forces, quoted by Interfax news agency.

'And an array of programmes, expensive programmes, will simply not be necessary for us,' he added.

The term 'third position area' refers to planned US missile defence facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic that have aroused a furious reaction from Russia.

'Today we do not have ideological reasons for confrontation. And as we realise plans for the development of the strategic missile forces, we are not planning to frighten anyone,' Mr Solovtsov said.

'We are simply doing that which is called for by today's realities.'

On Wednesday, Mr Solovtsov told reporters that by 2020 Russia would replace its Soviet-era nuclear missile arsenal with new systems featuring 'improved combat characteristics' and capable of overcoming defences like the US missile shield.

Russia has been working hard to upgrade its ageing missile forces and has tested new missiles in recent months.

The tests came as Moscow repeatedly lashed out at US plans - spearheaded by outgoing US President George W. Bush - to deploy an anti-missile radar facility in the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in Poland.

Russia views the planned facilities in the two former Soviet-bloc countries as a threat to its national security.

However the United States insists that its missile shield is not directed against Russia and is instead meant to protect against 'rogue states' like Iran.

Mr Bush's successor, US president-elect Barack Obama, has yet to give a clear signal about whether he will continue the project.

In addition to the facilities in Eastern Europe, Russia has also objected to what it views as US intentions - denied by Washington - to put elements of missile defence in space. -- AFP