Russia's president has ordered an upgrade of his country's nuclear deterrent and the modernization of its armed forces.

Dmitry Medvedev said in remarks posted Friday on the official Kremlin website that Russia must make the modernization of its military a priority in light of the recent war with the former Soviet republic of Georgia.

Medvedev says this should be done by 2020 and has given military commanders until December to come up with a plan.

The president has announced programs for building a new air and space defense network and begin large-scale production of warships, including nuclear submarines.

Medvedev was speaking Friday during a meeting with officers after military exercises in the southern Orenburg region.

SG/HAR