JERUSALEM — Israel’s advanced Arrow 3 antiballistic missile system intercepted a target on Thursday in a region of space just outside the earth’s atmosphere in the first successful test of its kind, according to Defense Ministry officials.

The system, which is being jointly developed by the government-owned Israel Aerospace Industries and its subsidiaries and the American Boeing Company, is not yet operational.

But analysts described the interception as an important step in Israel’s effort to defend itself against the potential threat of ballistic missiles armed with nuclear and other nonconventional warheads from enemies like Iran.

Yair Ramati, the director of the Defense Ministry’s missile defense organization, said in a call with reporters about 90 minutes after the Arrow 3 interceptor missile was launched that the engagement of a ballistic missile target was “successful and accurate.”