Israel and the United States on Tuesday successfully conducted a joint test of an upgraded Arrow 2 ballistic missile interception system over the Mediterranean Sea, the defence ministry said.

"An Arrow 2 missile was launched and performed its flight sequence as planned," the defence ministry said in a statement, with a spokesman confirming the system had been upgraded.

The two countries carried out similar tests in January, and in September last year, as Washington was considering military action against Syria.

Russia's defence ministry earlier released a statement reporting a missile launch from the Mediterranean Sea towards the eastern Mediterranean coast.

The Arrow Ballistic Missile Defence System, designed to counter long-range missiles, has successfully intercepted missiles similar to Iran's Shihab-3 in a variety of test conditions.

Israel has been working on upgrading its missile defence capabilities to defend against long- and short-range incoming projectiles, and speeded various projects after being hit by Iraqi Scud missiles during the 1991 Gulf War.

The Arrow project was first launched in 1988 as part of the then Star Wars programme under late US president Ronald Reagan that was abandoned in 1993.

The Jewish state accuses its arch-foe Iran of seeking to develop a nuclear warhead, a charge that Tehran denies.