At a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and cabinet members the minister said the first phase of preparations for it is already completed.
"Its area is the Norwegian Sea in the North Atlantic," Ivanov added.
The minister said two large anti-submarine ships would take part on the Russian side. Plans include joint maneuvering and calls at Norway and Britain.
The minister said that an exercise to guard and defend nuclear weapons facilities and their transportation means would begin tomorrow on the Kola peninsula.
"The exercise will be watched by monitors from most NATO countries," Ivanov said.
"This exercise was planned long ago, we want to conduct it openly and show our possibilities in ensuring the safety of nuclear facilities," Ivanov said.
He also said that the active phase of an exercise by a Collective Security Treaty Organization rapid deployment force commences on Thursday in the area of Lake Issyk Kul in Kyrgyzstan.
Ivanov added that the armed forces would continue their mobility drills involving ferrying by aviation over long distances.
Taking part on the Russian side will be around 150 Spetsnaz fighters of the Defense Ministry. The exercise will employ combat aircraft, helicopters, planes and an A-50 early warning aircraft, and high-precision in mountain terrain.
A little earlier, Ivanov noted, there would be a Russian-Italian exercise involving Russia's Black Sea fleet forces.
From the Russian side, the flagship cruiser Moskva and several smaller ships will sail for Italy to take part in an Italian naval exercise.
"Simultaneously, two warships will leave for combat patrols as part of the IBOR initiative [Bush's non-proliferation initiative]," Ivanov said.
Putin said that he had a conversation recently with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and the latter told him that he plans to call on participants of the exercise after it winds up.
The president also asked Ivanov about an aircraft carrier. "The aircraft carrier is scheduled [to enter service] by the beginning of September," the minister said.
He said pilots would soon start practicing deck landings. "We expect the aircraft carrier to be in service with the Northern Fleet from the middle of September," the defense minister said.
