MOSCOW, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Russia has delayed tests of its new submarine-based Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile due to software troubles, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said Friday.

"There are some technical problems with software and an automatic guiding system is being debugged," Serdyukov told reporters.

He said that the next test launch of the Bulava from the Alexander Nevsky nuclear submarine may be conducted near the end of the year.

Serdyukov also confirmed delays of repairs on the Yuri Dolgoruky,another Borei-955 class submarine.

"The United Shipbuilding Company cannot complete it (mending) so far," Serdyukov said. "I can't say when they will fix all shortcomings. So far they fail to do that."

The Defense Ministry earlier had scheduled the completion of sea tests of the Yuri Dolgoruky and planned to conduct at least two Bulava launches from the submarine in October.

The Bulava, Russia's most advanced three-stage solid fuel missile that is expected to become the country's main naval strategic missile, is capable of carrying 10 warheads with a range of 8,000 km.

Russia has tested the Bulava missile 18 times, with seven failures. Enditem

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