Russian scientists are working to upgrade intercontinental ballistic missiles to destroy near-Earth meteorites.
The Russian news agency TASS claims that scientists want to test the missiles against an asteroid that is expected to come "dangerously" close to Earth in 2036.
Russia previously reported that it wanted to work with NASA on an asteroid protection plan.
Last year a researcher at the Russian Academy of Sciences claimed that several dozens of asteroids may threaten Earth over the next 100 years.
Meanwhile, on Monday a leading Russian scientist warned that the rise of space junk may soon make it impossible for humans to reace near space.
Russian Academy of Sciences member Boris Shustov told TASS that it is senseless to use nuclear weapons to fight space junk and that lasers or netting the objects are a better solution.