United States Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the Pentagon is revamping its research and development program, with the objective of preserving America's defense technology advantage over its potential enemies.

Speaking at a defense industry conference in Newport, Rhode Island Wednesday, Hagel said Russia and China are decisively trying to close the gap with the U.S. in terms of military technology, and are developing weapons systems that appear to be designed to counter U.S. advances.

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The defense secretary was on his way to Wales to participate in the NATO summit, where leaders of the alliance are expected to discuss the Ukraine and Middle East crises, and talk about strengthening NATO's military capabilities.

Russia's souring relations with the West are expected to be brought into sharp focus during the summit.

At the defense forum in Rhose Island, Hagel said the U.S. currently enjoys  what he said was a decisive military and technological edge over any potential adversary, but added "our future superiority is not a given."

Hagel said China and Russia "have been trying to close the technology gap by pursuing and funding long-term, comprehensive military modernization programs."

"They are also developing anti-ship, anti-air, counter-space, cyber, electronic warfare and special operations capabilities that appear designed to counter traditional U.S. military advantages," the Pentagon chief added.

For years, the U.S. has been watching as Moscow and Beijing test sophisticated weapons systems, from radar-evading aircraft and anti-ship missiles that fly many times the speed of sound, to integrated air defenses.

China has even refurbished a Russian-built aircraft carrier, and has used it to project the People's Liberation Army (PLA) navy's new image as a "blue-water navy" capable of operating across the world's oceans.

U.S. defense spending, around US$500 billion per year, is still more than that of any other major power, and even of China's and Russia's spending combined. But under the Obama administration, research and development spending has gone down about 20 percent.  

In a related development, Pentagon's chief weapons buyer Frank Kendall said he had been asked to supervise an initiative to review military research and development spending. The official indicated he would be recommending additional spending, saying that "when you cut R and D, you are delaying modernization."

TagsChuck Hagel, Russia