Russia's Yars ballistic missile fails test launch

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.