Russia will deploy top-of-the-line anti-aircraft missiles in the Arctic to protect against threats including US nuclear bombers.

S-400 missiles, which can shoot down planes and cruise missiles at up to 400 kilometres, will be stationed on the Arctic coast and islands by the end of 2020, the long-running newspaper Izvestia quoted defence ministry sources as saying.

New infrastructure is being constructed for anti-aircraft units along the northeast passage as Russia develops a military presence not seen there since the Cold War.

The defence ministry, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment, said in December that units in the Arctic would be among those to receive S-400s.

The new anti-aircraft installations are meant to protect the northern sea route to Asia, which Russia has been promoting as global warming melts Arctic sea ice further and faster each year.

Vladimir Putin announced a new Arctic development strategy at a forum last week, saying the polar region was heating up four times faster than the rest of the world.

He said Russia would launch three nuclear icebreakers this year and offer tax breaks to bring investors north.