Israel says it has successfully tested an upgraded radar for the Arrow missile defense system, developed with the United States and designed to intercept projectiles that might be fired at the Jewish state, AP reported.

Defense official Yair Ramati says the test was conducted on Friday, February 10 in conjunction with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.

He says the purpose of the test was to validate the system's improved radar.

He said a Blue Sparrow 2 missile was fired west to east from "deep within the Mediterranean" but he would not say how far from Israel it was fired or what sort of threat it was designed to simulate.

A defense ministry statement says the Blue Sparrow was "representative of potential ballistic missile threats facing Israel."