The Israeli defense establishment on Thursday conducted successful operational testing for the Barak 8 missile, an integral part of a shipborne defense system, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The Barak 8 surface-to-air missile successfully shot down an "enemy" target, amid its first operational testing, the ministry said in a statement.

The system, which was developed in a joint venture by Israel and India, includes a 360-degree radar coverage, a two-way data link, a command and control system and the surface-to-air missiles.

The system is designed to protect Israeli military navy vessels from threats from aircrafts, helicopters, anti-ship missiles and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

A military official told the Ynet news website the system could offer protection to the Yakhont cruise missiles, developed by Russia and obtained by Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant organization situated in southern Lebanon, against which Israel had fought against in 2006.

Former Navy commander Eyal Harel told the website the defense system includes a new radar system, and called the Barak 8 defense system and missiles a "naval Iron Dome." Endit

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