CBNNews.com - The Israeli Defense Ministry announced the successful conclusion of another test firing of the Arrow 2 ballistic missile defense system on Tuesday.

"There was a successful test today of an improved Arrow [missile], which hit and intercepted a target more complicated than normal," Defense Minister Ehud Barak told reporters afterward.

Barak, who watched the test from a helicopter, came from visiting IDF (Israel Defense Forces) troops stationed near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip.

Tuesday's test, the 16th of the Arrow defense system, simulated the interception of an Iranian Shihab missile, which had been launched from an Israeli aircraft over the Mediterranean, a defense official told Israel Radio.

"The Arrow's interception altitude has been enhanced. Of course, the higher you go, the further out you can reach as well," he said, adding that 90 percent of the tests have been successful.

Our goal is to intercept enemy missiles as far away from Israeli skies as possible, which gives you time for another try if you miss," he said.

The Arrow missile defense system, meant to protect Israel from Iranian and Syrian ballistic missile attacks, is jointly funded by Israel and the U.S.

Source: Haaretz