JERUSALEM, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Israel conducted a test of its improved Patriot missile defense system recently and the Israel Defense Forces experiment was dubbed a success.
The test was conducted in cooperation with the armament company, RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems, and was the first of its kind to take place in Israel in several years, Haaretz reported Wednesday.
Tuesday's experiment involved a target that was simulating an aircraft and the improved missile system was successfully able to intercept the moving target.
Based on those results, a senior military source said the Patriot missile system could become operational in Israel immediately.
Israel previously used the anti-ballistic defense missile system during the 1991 Gulf War, when it intercepted surface-to-surface missiles launched by Iraqi forces.
Haaretz said the system's original intended use was to destroy enemy aircraft with its missiles.
