Israel tests Arrow ballistic missile interceptor
The Arrow (Hetz in Hebrew) intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile comparable to Iran's Shahab-3, and it was fired by an Israeli fighter plane over the Mediterranean, a defence official said.
"This morning, the Arrow system performed a successful test," the defence ministry said in a statement.
"The success of the project marks a key step in its development plan and the improvement of the operational systems to offer a response to the growing threat of ballistic missiles in the region."
Defence Minister Ehud Barak watched the test from a helicopter.
The Arrow project was launched in 1988 during the now-defunct Star Wars programme, under late US president Ronald Reagan. The programme was stepped up after Israel was hit by 39 Iraqi Scud missiles during the 1991 Gulf War.
Development of the Arrow is now half-funded by the United States. Israel has carried out more than a dozen successful tests of the Arrow under various conditions.
Israel considers Iran to be its arch-foe following repeated statements by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for (occupied Palestine) to be wiped off the map.
Widely considered to be the Middle East's sole nuclear armed state, Israel and Washington suspect Iran of trying to develop atomic weapons under the guise of its civilian nuclear programme, a charge Tehran has repeatedly denied.