The Israel Air Force is deciding this week whether to buy an improved model of the US-made Patriot missile defense system in order to defend the country against the new Syrian missile threat.

The new Patriot PAC-3 is believed to be capable of intercepting most Syrian missiles and would complement Israel’s own first line Arrow defense system which is designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles. The Patriot system costs some $50 million.

Following last summers war between Israel and Hizbullah terrorists, the Syrian government purchased a large number of ballistic missiles capable of hitting all of Israel.