Russia's Space Forces confirmed on Wednesday the failure of a test-firing of a Yars (RS-24) intercontinental ballistic missile launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

The launch was the first of a prototype modification of the missile, according to a defense industry source.

"The firing from Plesetsk on September 27 was part of testing by the manufacturer of a new series of missiles," Space Forces spokesman Colonel Alexei Zolotukhin said.

The test concerned a new warhead bus for the solid-fuel RS-24, according to a military source.

"The new multiple warhead section would upgrade the capabilities of this missile to take on future missile defense systems," the source told RIA Novosti.