The successful  test launch of the Arrow 2 anti ballistic missile system has brought Israel one step closer to countering the looming threat of long range and nuclear tipped missile attacks on the tiny State by Syria and Iran.

Security officials were quick to declare that the launching of the newly modified missile was not linked to Iran's intention to boost its nuclear program.

Fired from the Air Force base at Palmahim, security officials said the aim of Monday's test was to launch the missile without intercepting a target and gather information on its performance,

Defense officials said Monday,  that the test was not as complex as the one carried out six weeks ago. They noted that Monday's test trial was the sixteenth test of the defense missile system, and cost an estimated 15 million shekels.

In February, Israel successfully tested the Arrow missile system for the first time at night. At the time, the missile intercepted a test target that simulated the warhead of a long range Iranian surface to surface Shihab 3 missile. Then, Knesset member Yuval Steinitz, the former head of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee told reporters that the test proved that Israel is capable of bringing down any long range ballistic missile and described it as a capability no power in the world possesses.

Lt. Col. Moshe Fattal, a senior member of the department for the project said the February launching showed that the Arrow missile is capable of dealing with future Syrian and Iranian threats. Speaking on Army Radio, Fattal said "I believe that the citizens of Israel can sleep peacefully,"

One however should not overlook the fact that during the Second Lebanon War, there were no attempts by the Arrow missile batteries deployed in Safed and Haifa to intercept incoming missiles fired by Hizbullah into Israel.

At the same time, the advanced missile defense system is considered to be one  of the most advanced systems in existance and is jointly funded by the United States and Israel. Considered the showpiece of American and Israeli technology, the Arrow program should provide Israel with overall protection from ballistic missile attacks and the US with key research for other missile defense programs.

By Margot Dudkevitch