Russia will delay putting its new Borei class nuclear submarine in service due to problems found during tests, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

"Shortcomings have been detected during the tests. After they are mended, the tests will be repeated and the sub could be put on service only after the State Commission approves it," First Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Sukhorukov told reporters.

Sukhorukov said the commission has not given approval to date to put the Yuri Dolgoruky strategic submarine in service.

The Yuri Dolgoruky, along with the second sub of the 955 Borei class, the Alexander Nevsky, will be initially assigned to the Northern Fleet and be moved to the Pacific Fleet after the infrastructure there is ready.

The Yuri Dolgoruky is one of Russia's eight newest submarines to be equipped with new sea-based Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles, which can carry up to 10 hypersonic individually guided maneuverable warheads.

Russia's Sevmash shipyard started building the Yuri Dolgoruky in 1996, the Alexander Nevsky in 2004 and a third "sibling," the Vladimir Monomakh, in 2006.

Each of the 170-meter submarines can carry 16 Bulava missiles with a range of 8,000 km.

Sukhorukov said no Bulava launches from the Yuri Dolgoruky have been planned for the rest of 2012.

"The launch will be made from Alexander Nevsky during the State Commission's tests," he said.

Earlier this year, the Defense Ministry said the two subs would be put in service this summer.