JERUSALEM, Israel -- The Defense Ministry announced the successful first test of the surface-to-air Arrow 3 missile defense system Monday morning.

Arrow 2 and 3 missiles have been jointly developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and Boeing. The Arrow 3 designed to successfully intercept Iranian long-range ballistic missiles carrying nonconventional warheads.

Monday's test took place at at an Israeli test range over the Mediterranean Sea and focused on the missile's launch system and flight path, not the missiles intercepting capabilities.

"The successful test is a major milestone in the development of the Arrow 3 Weapon System and provides further confidence in the future Israeli defense capabilities to defeat the developing ballistic missile threat," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

When fully operational, the Arrow 3 will be capable of destroying incoming ballistic missiles launched outside the Earth's atmosphere.

The Arrow 3, Arrow 2, Iron Dome, and David's Sling make up Israel's multi-layered anti-missile defense systems against short-, medium- and long-range rockets and missiles.

Experts estimate as many as 200,000 missiles are aimed at Israel.