JERUSALEM, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Israel has "successfully" concluded a series of tests of an upgraded Iron Dome air defense system, the Israeli defense ministry said on Sunday.
The defense ministry wrote on its Twitter account that it has completed "a complex test campaign" of an advanced version of the Iron Dome system.
The tests were conducted by the Israel Missile Defense Organization, a department of the defense ministry, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., a government-owned weapons company.
"The system tested is an upgraded and improved version of the Iron Dome," Moshe Patael, chief of the Israel Missile Defense Organization, said in a statement issued by the ministry.
Patael said that once the upgraded system is delivered to the military, it "will enable the Air Force to confront expected threats in the region in a much better way."
Rafael's Executive Vice President and Head of Air and Missile Defense Division, Pini Yungman, said the "system intercepted all threats simulated during the tests."
The Defense Ministry said the completion of the tests marks "an important milestone in Israel's operational ability to defend itself of current and future regional threats."
The ministry added that the new tests come 10 years after the system was first tested.
Israel uses Iron Dome mainly to intercept short-range rockets fired from the Gaza Strip during escalations with the Palestinians.
According to figures released by the Defense Ministry, the system has operated about 2,400 successful interceptions since it first became operational in 2011.
Iron Dome is part of Israel's multi-layer defense doctrine, which includes also David's Sling, a medium to long-range missiles defense system, and the long-range Arrow-3 and Arrow-2 systems.
