"There was an important test, which was carried out successfully, of a ballistic missile," the station said, adding the test was carried out from the Palmachin military base south of Tel Aviv, but providing no further details.

But according to the YNet news website, the test was "part of future multi-layered defence system designed to counter various aerial threats against the Jewish state."

Israel has in recent years concentrated efforts on countering the threat of missile attacks from neighbouring Arab states and Iran, which has itself conducted several long-range missile tests.

Israel is widely considered to be the Middle East's sole if undeclared nuclear armed state and accuses Iran of using its controversial nuclear programme as a cover for developing atomic weapons, a charge Tehran denies.