The Russian Armed Forces were testing a high-tech equipment designed for future soldiers, Russia 's Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

A Russian "soldier of the future" would be equipped with devices to withstand unfriendly environments, weapons of mass destruction, non-lethal weapons and other items, ministry spokesman Nikolai Donyushkin said.

"Soldiers have started intensive trials of elements of the equipment, including for riflemen, scouts, mechanic-drivers, as part of military trials exercises. We also intend to carry out unit trials based on these systems," Donyushkin told reporters here.

The equipment, being tested by a motor-infantry brigade at a firing range in the Moscow region, contains about 40 different parts, local media quoted the spokesman as saying.

It includes various information and communications systems, navigators, life-supporting devices, eye-protective glasses, ear- plugs, thermal bodywear, body armor and others.

Russia negotiated with France last year about purchasing a batch of French FELIN infantry systems for evaluation. FELIN is a modular infantry combat suite offering efficient ergonomics, autonomy and weight saving for a serviceman.

Russian Chief of Staff General Nikolai Makarov said later that Russia would develop its own soldier's equipment program.